Warriors welcomed supporters back to Sixways for the first time in nine months and although there was no win for them to celebrate there was some encouragement in defeat.
Once again the final scoreline did not accurately reflect the game but the difference between the sides was in finishing.
Warriors dominated the first half but had only a penalty from Duncan Weir to show for their efforts while Bath scored three converted tries from as many visits to the home 22.
Bath used their driving lineout to effect in the second half to secure the bonus point and open up a 30 points lead but Warriors showed resilience in adversity by scoring two well-worked tries through wings Perry Humphreys and Nick David and, with better finishing they might easily have scored two more.
Director of Alan Solomons was left to reflect on what might have been and the break from Gallgher Premiership action for European Challenge Cup matches against Pau and Ospreys should allow time to regroup and refresh.
The biggest positive of a cold day was the return of spectators for the first time since March. Only 2,000 were allowed in but they made enough noise to generate a lively atmosphere and their support was appreciated by the players, particularly in the final quarter.
It all began so well with Weir, back from international duty with Scotland, slotted a sixth minute penalty.
All the early pressure came from Warriors with Perry Humphreys almost getting through with a superb attack from deep in defence only to lose the ball in contact.
A brilliant burst from Tom Dodd again opened up the Bath defence but Weir’s chip through ran dead before Bath scored from their first attack.
They patiently built the pressure from an attacking lineout and Zach Mercer, so often a thorn in Warriors’ side, went over from close range with Ben Spencer adding the extras.
Spencer took over the kicking duties after Rhys Priestland was forced out of the match following a clash of heads with Oli Morris which was nasty but accidental.
Morris found himself in the action again on the half hour when he fumbled on his own 22 and Max Wright snaffled the ball to score an interception try which Spencer improved.
Warriors again enjoyed a period of dominance with Weir finding the corner with penalties and the pack trying to rumble over from close range.
But Mercer checked a threatening driving maul by getting underneath the ball carrier. To add insult to injury, Bath went up the other end and rumbled skipper Josh McNally over in first half injury time with Spencer making it three conversions in a row.
Warriors needed points early in the second half if they were to turn things around, instead Elliott Stooke and Semesa Rokoduguni crossed in the space of four minutes in the third quarter to dash those hopes.
But Warriors always looked dangerous in attack and patience was eventually rewarded when first Ted Hill, then Billy Searle made ground and Humphreys supplied a slick finish on his first appearance of the season.
Another sustained attack stretched Bath’s defence and David scooted over in the left hand corner with Searle converting both tries.
Morgan Monks carried impressively in a lively cameo on his Premiership debut but Warriors were put under pressure at the lineout and missed out on the consolation of one certain and a second possible bonus point.
Warriors | 15 Melani Nana, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Oli Morris(Beck 51), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Nick David, 10 Duncan Weir (Searle 51), 9 Francois Hougaard (Simpson 59), 1 Ethan Waller (Black 56), 2 Niall Annett (Cutting 55), 3 Richard Palframan (Carey 59), 4 Anton Bresler (Merrick 64), 5 Joe Batley, 6 Ted Hill (C), 7 Tom Dodd (Monks 72), 8 Cornell du Preez.
Replacements | 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Callum Black, 18 Conor Carey, 19 George Merrick, 20 Morgan Monks, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Ashley Beck.
Timeline
6m | Weir pen 3-0
21m | Mercer try 3-5
22m | Spencer con 3-7
28m | Wright try 3-12
29m | Spencer con 3-14
39m | McNally try 3-19
40m | Spencer con 3-21
53m | Stooke try 3-26
54m | Spencer con 3-28
57m | Rokoduguni try 3-33
62m | Humphreys try 8-33
63m | Searle con 10-33
75m | David try 15-33
76m | Searle con 17-33