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So where does that leave us then? Well for a start London Irish's barren run at The Rec continues, where they haven't won since November 2009, as the Exiles stay in 10th place.

But for Bath, they are now in prime position for a home semi-final, five points clear of third-placed Saracens who take on leaders Northampton tomorrow. That should be quite a tasty game, shouldn't it?

On Sunday, sixth-placed Wasps host fourth-placed Exeter as things hot up at the top of the table.

Remember you can listen to your team via BBC local radio commentary and on our website.

And for now, I bid you a goodnight.

Mike Ford also paid tribute to Sam Burgess' man-of-the-match performance. The flanker made 12 carries in tonight's game.

"His skillset is his work-rate and his carrying. We've always had that vision for Sam, you can see the way that we're playing with Kyle Eastmond and George Ford, they're first and second receivers and Sam's running a line off them as well.

"He's in the backfield as well so if people want to kick to us we've got Matt Banahan, Anthony Watson, Semesa Rokoduguni and Sam Burgess.

"He's everything I thought he could be. I still think he can improve and he thinks so too, but in every training session he's getting better and better."

Ford continued: "We believe in our principles and what we're doing. Last year we lost a lot of players towards the end of the season, but this year Dave Wilson is coming back for the Harlequins game, Henry Thomas is the week after.

"We got no injuries tonight. We've got another weeks' rest, and we're in a good position."

Bath head coach Mike Ford told BT Sport: "I thought we played well first-half to be honest, we made a lot of line breaks but couldn't build any pressure in terms of phases. They conceded 10 penalties in the first half.

"At half-time we kept reiterating that we play the way we train, and I think at the start of the second-half it all came from the team talk and we didn't panic.

"The start of the second-half was brilliant, and to get five tries in the end was very pleasing."

That bonus-point win for Bath means they now sit just a point behind leaders Northampton in the Premiership table.

Perhaps more importantly, Mike Ford's side have overtaken and built a five-point gap between themselves and third-placed Saracens.

It will all change again on Saturday though when Saints take on Sarries at 15:15 BST.

Burgess continued: "I think the way we play at Bath it does suit me, I can get into the game a bit more in that position. Whatever works well for the team I will do."

Some might say his award is a gimmick, but to be frank he excelled tonight.

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Bath flanker and man-of-the-match Sam Burgess told BT Sport: "It's very tight at the top so five points is vital. We were quite scrappy in the first half but clinical in the second. I think we got to the breakdown earlier and have some great outside backs who can finish tries off.

"We live in the now and take it week by week, we can only control what we can control. We've got two weeks left now."

Well after a slow start, Mike Ford's Bath came out in the second half fighting, with tries from Leroy Houston, Jonathan Joseph, Matt Banahan, Sam Burgess and Semesa Rokoduguni giving their side victory and taking them up to second.

Now it's over to you Saracens...

Forget what I just said, what do I know?! Off a line-out by the try-line, the London Irish maul push Blair Cowan over the line. Shane Geraghty misses the difficult kick, and Luke Pearce blows his whistle for full-time.

A thoroughly deserved victory for Bath.

This game is now winding itself down. After an explosive start to the second half, Bath are letting London Irish into it a bit, but the Exiles just can't get anywhere near the try-line.

Meanwhile Sam Burgess has just been named man-of-the-match. Thoroughly deserved in my opinion. He's carried the ball well and done his job for the team.

Sneaky from Bath there, as George Ford fakes a penalty for the corner and Bath work the ball from right to left and then back again, allowing winger Semesa Rokoduguni an easy finish.

Ford misses the conversion, but that doesn't matter too much in the context of this game. Take it out of the oven. It's done.

Ah, yet more handbags now, as London Irish sub Sean Cox takes issue with something. Not sure what though, not even sure he knows.

I think it would be an understatement to say this has been a rather strong second-half performance from Bath. The pace at which they have attacked the London Irish defence has been stunning, as George Ford kicks a penalty into the corner. They aren't relenting.

That's the second Irish player in the ref's book tonight as substitute Dan Leo walks to the bin for not moving away.

As if things couldn't get any harder for the visitors...

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The floodgates have begun to open and there is a big name who has got their fourth try.

Rugby league convert Sam Burgess, playing at flanker for the second time, has his third Premiership try as he is pushed over by a huge pack of Bath players to earn his side get a bonus point.

That could be a massive morale boost for Burgess, who has impressed tonight.

Some pretty mad play from Topsy Ojo there. The London Irish winger threw the ball up in the air off George Ford's long kick, but it bounced away from him, allowing Bath players to run at him. In his haste he plays a pass far too long, but the Exiles scramble the ball away.

That is not what your side need when they are down.

Simon Meredith:, external Jonathan Joseph is one of the finest centres in world rugby at the moment, we're lucky to have him

Bath back-rower David Sisi summarising for BBC Radio Bristol: "After that first try it's given the boys some confidence, that edge that was missing.

"We've been running good shapes all night. I was finding it tough in the first half to put my finger on what was going wrong.

"The guys are now really executing what we were going out to do."

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Where was this in the first half? London Irish cannot deal with the explosive nature of Bath, and when Peter Stringer plays to Kyle Eastmond, he takes out some defenders before flicking out to a completely free Matt Banahan on the line, who goes in for an easy finish.

George Ford, though, misses his first kick of the night. Still his side have an 18-point lead.