Bath coach Steve Meehan believes his players have "probably exceeded expectations" with their impressive start to the Guinness Premiership campaign.

After finishing eighth last season and missing out on Heineken Cup qualification, Meehan's men currently lie second in the table, one point behind Gloucester.

A 28-13 west country derby victory over Bristol was their sixth Premiership win from seven starts - only two less than during the whole of last term - leaving Meehan in upbeat mood.

He said: "After seven matches now, we have probably exceeded expectations.

"If we keep our feet on the ground, if we believe in ourselves, results will continue to come our way.

"If you compare us with where we were this time last year, we've come on leaps and bounds."

Tries by Andrew Higgins, Michael Lipman and Matthew Banahan - plus 13 points from Olly Barkley's boot - brought Bristol back down to earth following their stunning Heineken Cup success against tournament favourites Stade Francais six days earlier.

Bristol head coach Richard Hill said: "We are not necessarily expecting to be in the top four this year.

"We've got virtually the same squad, but it was a conscious decision that our money would be spent on funding our fantastic new training facilities which cost some £700,000.

"Next year, perhaps we will have the resources to build the squad again. We have got to do that if the club is to move on."

Gloucester maintained their place at the Premiership summit - but only after Harlequins gave them a major fright at Kingsholm.

Quins scored four tries during the opening 33 minutes - Simon Keogh (two), Chris Malone and Ugo Monye touched down - but then lost their way during a second half that saw Andy Gomarsall and Ceri Jones both sin-binned.

Gloucester, 25-13 behind at the break, rallied through wing Lesley Vainikolo's try double and a Mike Tindall score that left Quins rugby director Dean Richards fuming.

Richards said: "We got one penalty in the second half from a punch which was picked up by the touch judge.

"I don't know any side these days who can go through a half without giving a penalty away. It's incredible.

"I cannot understand it, but who am I to question the referee? They are always right.

"We always knew Gloucester had the ability to come back, but it is difficult to take."

Reflecting on Gloucester's first-half struggle, head coach Dean Ryan admitted: "It was very alarming, but I strongly believed it was down to simple things.

"We were calm at half-time, and I thought we got back into the game superbly."

Leeds Carnegie's Premiership struggle continued at home to Leicester, with the Tigers chalking up a routine 29-6 victory in new head coach Marcelo Loffreda's first league game.

Tom Varndell (two) and Tom Youngs scored tries, but Loffreda was left enthusing about 22-year-old flanker Tom Croft's display.

Loffreda said: "He was outstanding. He has a lot of potential, a really good future, and someone who maybe in another few months could make a big jump."

Leeds boss Stuart Lancaster added: "You have to get all parts of your game functioning properly when you face sides of Leicester's quality.

"I thought we matched them across the field, but they get one or two opportunities and suddenly you look at the scoreboard and think 'is that a fair reflection of the game'?"

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