EIGHT tries and an outstanding performance from Olly Barkley left Bath comfortably positioned for the challenges which they face in the final weeks of the season. This victory over Leeds puts them into the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a home tie against Sale on April 26.

Barkley’s performance for a team riding increasing waves of optimism showed not only his enormous value to the current Bath squad but also underscores how much they will miss his ability when he leaves for Gloucester next season. Time is running out for Barkley’s contribution to Bath but he is bound to be a key player in their bid to win in Europe (they were runners-up last season) and nail down something of consequence in the Guinness Premiership.

It would also be entirely ludicrous for England not to take Barkley on their June tour to New Zealand where they will play two Tests. On yesterday’s diamond-sharp evidence, Barkley is at his peak.

Barkley’s kicking gave him seven conversions out of eight attempts and one penalty. He was also at the heart of so many fast-moving plays from in the Bath attack and Leeds found it virtually impossible to close him down, especially in the second half when Bath scored five tries.

The main beneficiary from bath’s width, pace, and ambition was Matt Banahan on the left wing. He scored a hat-trick of tries - his second triple score against Leeds this season - to bring his overall tally to 13, eight of which came in the Premiership.

Undoubtedly Leeds will be glad to see the back of Banahan after the damage he has done to them. There must now be an outside chance, at least, of Banahan going to New Zealand because the left wing position in the England team is up for grabs.

In sunny conditions yesterday, with a French referee at least providing a hint of Europe in an otherwise largely English affair, Bath were into their stride after only minutes when Barkley landed what proved to be his only penalty of the day. The match had almost reached the end of its first quarter when Bath gained their first try. It came from a lineout on the Leeds 22 with Danny Grewcock’s take giving Bath the opportunity to work fast across field with Barkley and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu in harmony to send Banahan off for his first touchdown. It was a statement of intent.

Another soon arrived and once more Barkley provided the inspiration at the centre of the attack, this time with a floated kick off his left foot which was gathered neatly by Nick Abendanon 35 metres out and in plenty of space to run in.

Leeds gained their only score of the day eight minutes before the break. Their captain Stuart Hooper, who joins Bath next season, led the charge out of a lineout 45 metres from the line with Mike MacDonald in support. When the ball was recycled Rob Vickerman took over to score.

Bath needed only 45 seconds to start the second half with a try. Alex Crockett, the captain, did some groundwork at the start of the attack but it was finished off at pace by Andrew Higgins who came thundering in from halfway for his touchdown.

That ended any prospect of Leeds coming back into the reckoning. Leeds, having lost so heavily to Saracens six days previously, did not have the fortitude to regroup and change the course of the match. But they would be wise to start planning for next season in National League One.

Barkley produced a stunning run for his try eight minutes into the second half. Fuimaono-Sapolu exploded out of a scrum and found Barkley, who went hammering down the left wing for a touchdown which was the most impressive of the day.

The winger provided the next score with Banahan taking a scoring pass from Abendanon and then Jonny Faamatuainu touched down after an attack fuelled by a great run from Higgins.

The final two tries came when Daniel Browne was gifted a score by Faamatuainu who paused after he had crossed the line to pass the ball back, and then Banahan completed his hat-trick after a pass from Tom Cheeseman.

Bath coach Steve Meehan said their show in the second half was what they had been training for. “I was hoping for that instinct, that drive” he said. “That is what we have been looking at for the past few weeks.”

Without doubt Bath have a team to take them forward and even though Barkley will be departing they have Butch James, the South African World Cup fly-half returning from injury next week to boost their hopes.

Bath are hoping to increase the capacity of their ground from 11,000. “The development plans for The Rec are on hold until we get the thumbs-up from the Charity Commission, ” said chief executive Bob Calleja. “Contrary to public perception it appears we still have to convince the decision-makers that the benefits of our proposal significantly outweigh the detriments.”

Star man: Olly Barkley (Bath)

Bath: N Abendanon (M Stephenson 57min); A Higgins, A Crockett (capt), E Fuimaono-Sapolu (T Cheeseman 58min), M Banahan; O Barkley, M Claassens (M Baxter 60min); D Flatman, L Mears (P Dixon 40min), M Stevens (P Ion 53min), P Short (M Purdy 60min), D Grewcock, J Faamatuainu, M Lipman (D Browne 53min), C Goodman.

Leeds Carnegie: J Goodridge; R Welding, T Rock (J Brooks 57min, D Paul 67min), R Vickerman, L Hinton; A Greendale, D Edwards (J Bedford 60min); MacDonald (Pala’amo 61min), R Rawlinson (J Parkes 45min), F Pala’amo (A Hopcroft 48), S Hooper (capt), E Lund, K Myall (R Oakley 23min), M Schusterman, C Clark (M Lock for Clark 57min).

Scorers: Bath: Tries: Banahan (3), Abendanon, Higgins, Barkley, Faamatuainu, Browne Cons: Barkley 7 Pen: Barkley

Leeds: Try: Vickerman

Referee: R Poite (France) Attendance: 7,569