Bath's fears of relegation were compounded on Tuesday night after they crashed to a 31-15 defeat at the hands of London Irish.

Exiles fly-half Barry Everitt kicked 26 points - eight penalties and a conversion of full-back Michael Horak's try - from nine attempts, to deny Bath a first league away win this season.

And Everitt's exploits eclipsed those of his opposite number Iain Balshaw, who made a solid first start in the Bath number 10 jersey.

Balshaw dropped two huge first-half goals and made a scintillating 40-metre break, yet he could not inspire a brave, if limited, Bath outfit, for whom centre Olly Barkley also slotted three penalties.

The 1998 European kings and six-times English champions now have just four league games left, and they remain hovering perilously close to the trap-door, tied on 28 points with Leeds - their opponents this weekend - and bottom club Harlequins.

Irish, meanwhile, are now just one point behind second-placed Gloucester, and Heineken Cup qualification for next season looks certain.

Danny Grewcock and Mike Tindall both returned to Bath's line-up following their Lloyds TSB Six Nations exploits with England in Italy three days ago, but the main selection talking point surrounded the fly-half position.

With Mike Catt recovering from shoulder surgery, Bath coach Michael Foley turned to former England full-back Balshaw as his number 10 and moved England Under-21 playmaker Barkley into midfield alongside Tindall.

Bath found themselves under relentless early pressure, with Irish releasing ball-carrying forwards Chris Sheasby and Declan Danaher into the heart of opposing territory.

And Bath required an eighth-minute penalty, awarded in their favour following a punch-up between Grewcock and Irish lock Steve Williams, to relieve escalating danger.

Irish stormed back into the Bath 22 though, and it took a brilliant Rob Thirlby tackle to deny Irish wing Paul Sackey a try after Everitt's pass split the visiting defence wide open.

Everitt opened the scoring through a short-range penalty on 13 minutes, but Barkley levelled it up with a mighty 50-metre strike six minutes later after Everitt had missed from similar range.

Irish still looked comfortably the more dangerous team, and Everitt's second penalty came after Danaher and Williams had made considerable yardage, combining pace, power and some deft handling skills.

Balshaw then stunned the home crowd with a 45-metre drop-goal to keep Bath in contention, yet Irish finally made pressure count when the impressive Sackey pulled defenders wide and his cleverly-placed kick saw Horak gather and score.

Everitt converted before another Barkley penalty and superb Balshaw drop-goal slashed Irish's advantage to 13-12 after Foley sent on Borthwick instead of Mark Gabey, with Bath's line-out malfunctioning.

Everitt though came up trumps once again, and two further penalties secured a seven-point lead at the interval.

Foley made another change for the second period, replacing skipper Dan Lyle with Nathan Thomas, and Balshaw gave Bath momentum through a stunning break that required all of Irish player-coach Brendan Venter's defensive excellence to thwart.

The prolific Everitt made it six out of six by landing a 50-metre penalty, ruthlessly punishing another Bath indiscretion, before completing a magnificent seven on 54 minutes and taking Irish further away at 25-12 ahead.

Bath's hopes of a bonus point disappeared during the closing 10 minutes. Barkley completed a penalty hat-trick, but two further Everitt goals ensured that Irish comfortably avenged their 19-11 Premiership defeat at Bath last November.

Teams:

London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Venter, Bishop, Everitt, Martens, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick, Williams, Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.

Replacements: Brown for Horak (80), Edwards for Martens (50), Hatley for Worsley (60), Kirke for Drotske (46), Halford for Hardwick (46), Halvey for Gustard (61).

Not Used: Delaney.

Tries: Horak.

Cons: Everitt.

Pens: Everitt 8.

Bath: Thirlby, Voyce, Tindall, Barkley, Danielli, Balshaw, Dalzell, Emms, Long, Mallett, Gabey, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Scaysbrook, Lyle.

Replacements: Cooper for Dalzell (53), Regan for Long (52), D. Barnes for Mallett (48), Borthwick for Gabey (33), N. Thomas for Lyle (42).

Not Used: Crockett, Bellinger.

Pens: Barkley 3.

Drop Goals: Balshaw 2.

Att: 6,055

Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).