Forearmed, forewarned but forlorn at the end, Mike Ruddock, director of rugby of an improving Worcester Warriors, gave a rueful smile when asked about Tom Cheeseman's hat-trick. “I know about Tom, I used to play with his dad,” Ruddock said. “So I watched him growing up and playing in the garden and he's always had good skills. I think the Welsh selectors should come and have a look at him.”

Wales have not spoken to him yet and the England selectors could come knocking, too, because Tom's father was an England B back-row forward in the 1970s as well as playing for Swansea. “I think by my accent I'm pretty Welsh,” Cheeseman, 22, said. “Hopefully they'll call at some point.”

Cheeseman's tries were more than just run-ins and showed that the centre has an eye for space and surprising pace. He ended up on the wing for the lot, looping with Joe Maddock for the first and third as Bath cut through Worcester from a lineout in the 73rd minute to reclaim the lead.Bath could have won the game more easily, but it took an heroic last three minutes of remorseless defence to make sure. In a strange way this may give them more belief that they can win the Guinness Premiership, especially after such a quick turnaround from beating Leicester on Tuesday night. Twelve times Worcester battered forward from the lineout ten metres out, but they were driven back.Cheeseman, playing because Alex Crockett, the captain, was rested, may not be ready for international rugby, but he is a symbol of Bath's renaissance. Bath, second in the table, have a tough run-in, at home to Saracens and away to Gloucester in the last round. But first Sale Sharks arrive for a European Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday. There is every chance that Worcester will have a chance for revenge as they host Newcastle Falcons in the other semi-final.

Scorers: Worcester Warriors: Tries: Benjamin 2 (20min, 47), Drahm. Conversion: Drahm. Penalty goal: Drahm (15). Bath: Tries: Cheeseman 3 (9, 24, 72). Conversion: Barkley. Penalty goals: Barkley 2 (33, 45).

Scoring sequence (Worcester first): 0-5, 3-5, 8-5, 8-10, 8-13 (half-time), 8-16, 13-16, 20-16, 20-23.

Worcester Warriors: T Delport (rep: T Pennell, 79); M Garvey, R Gear, S Tuitupou, M Benjamin; S Drahm, M Powell (rep: J Arr, 73); T Windo (rep: M Mullan, 40), A Lutui, T Taumoepaeu, C Gillies (rep: W Bowley, 73), G Rawlinson, D Hickey, P Sanderson (rep: T Wood 19-30, 40+1), K Horstmann.

Bath: J Maddock (rep: M Stephenson, 45; S Berne, 73); A Higgins, T Cheeseman, O Barkley, M Banahan; B James, M Claassens; M Stevens, L Mears (rep: P Dixon, 77), D Bell (rep: D Barnes, 40), S Borthwick, D Grewcock, C Goodman, M Lipman, D Browne (rep: P Short, 73).

Referee: A Small.

Attendance: 10,049.