Bates: Tigers win our best yet

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A try from centre Tane Tu'ipulotu and nine points, including a 45-metre drop goal, from fly-half Tom May saw Bates' side secure a 14-10 victory over the Tigers on a bitterly cold night at Kingston Park.

Bates said: "The first-half in particular was our best performance of the season. I had said to the guys beforehand that we were going to have to be at our best. We scored a cracking try and we played some really good stuff."

He added: "We created two or three chances in the second half that we didn't convert that maybe could have made the winning margin larger.

"We did a lot of things tonight that we didn't do in defeat to Bath last week."

Bates was also keen to praise on fly-half May, who has impressed in the number 10 jersey since moving into the position from the wing during the victory against Gloucester in January.

"I thought he did a fantastic job," said Bates.

"We had spoken to him about keeping us in the right areas. He is moving in the right direction and he suits us at the moment, he is playing well. He had a great game tonight doing what he is good at."