Neil Back and Andy Key included seven of the club 's new signings in their matchday squad whilst Bath made a late change to their announced squad. England centre Olly Barkley was ruled out meaning that Matt Banahan moved into the centres and former Leeds favourite Tom Biggs started. His place on the bench was taken by youngster Paul Roberts.

The opening exchanges were played at tremendous pace in the late summer sun at Headingley Carnegie and it was the home side who dominated possession. Leeds looked to attack every time they had the ball in hand, even from within their own 22, and some good interplay between forwards and backs opened up the visitors defence.

The first line out saw Marco Wentzel pinch possession to keep up that happy routine whilst Leeds dominated the first scrum, earning a penalty from referee JP Doyle.

Leeds had the chance to get off the mark after 14 minutes when Bath were penalised for not releasing the tackled player. However, Ceiron Thomas pushed his penalty attempt wide from 20 metres out.

The home side were left to rue that missed chance four minutes later when Bath earned a penalty with their first real attack on the Leeds line. Carnegie were caught offside and Sam Vesty had no hesitation in stepping up to kick his side into the lead from the ensuing penalty.

Leeds responded in good fashion though and Thomas soon had a chance to make amends with a penalty 30 metres out in front of the posts. He was on target this time to make it 3-3 after 20 minutes.

Bath enjoyed their best spell of pressure after that levelling score and looked certain to score the opening of the game as they camped themselves on the home line. However, some resolute defence from Leeds kept them out and put pressure on their handling skills, which twice let them down and allowed Carnegie to come away from their own line. Vesty also missed a penalty to add to coach Steve Meehan's frustrations.

The fans inside Headingley Carnegie were enjoying the skill on display from their team. Leeds were showing real invention and skipper Marco Wentzel brought the crowd to their feet as he burst through 40 metres out only for his pass to go to a Bath player with only the last man to beat.

However, it was the visitors who crossed for the first try of the game. Having had that let off, they went down the other end of the field and eventually sheer weight of numbers created a gap for full back Nick Abendanon to cross in the corner. Vesty added the touchline conversion to make it 10-6 after 35 minutes.

There was still left for Leeds to mount one last attack and they showed real composure to set up a position for Ceiron Thomas to kick a drop goal from 35 metres out to leave the half time score at 9-10.

Leeds came out fired up at the start of the second half but they fell for a sucker punch just seven minutes into the half when over enthusiasm seemed to create a mis-read in defence and Lee Blackett and Ceiron Thomas completely failed to pick up hte run of Vesty, and the former Leicester man waltzed through for perhaps the easiest try of his career. He added the conversion to make it 17-9.

The home side had the chance to cut the lead two minutes later but Thomas pulled his 25 metre penalty attempt wide.

Vesty was able to add a penalty for his side after 55 minutes to extend the lead to eleven points. Worse was to come for Leeds Carnegie though when the visitors crossed for their third try Matt Carraro, although there was a real doubt about whether the final pass from Vesty was forward. Carraro did not hang about to find out whether it was or not, and waltzed through for the try, which Vesty converted to make it 27-9.

Bath were reduced to 14 men for the final ten minutes of the game when Michael Claassens was sin binned for a professional foul. However, that did not stop Bath claiming the bonus point as skipper Luke Watson left Semi Tadulala flat footed from the base of a scrum ten metres out to go over in the corner. Vesty was off target from the touchline but Steve Meehan's side now led 32-9.

Credit to Leeds, they kept plugging away and there was a consolation try for Steve Thompson on his debut with the final play of the game. Leigh Hinton added the conversion to make the final score 32-16.