A late Sam Simmonds try proved to be the difference for Exeter Chiefs as they wheeled away from Bath as 23-16 victors on Friday, but the hosts had good reason to feel somewhat aggrieved.
That was after a first-half face-off between Stuart Hogg and opposing full-back Tom de Glanville perhaps should have ended with the former spending 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Despite coming into the Premiership 's Week 9 opener with seven losses from seven games, Bath looked the better of the two teams in the first period and led 10-6 coming at the interval.
It was in the 35th minute that returning scrum-half Ben Spencer broke from inside his own half to feed De Glanville, who chipped in to put himself one-on-one with Exeter fly-half Harvey Skinner.
Or so it seemed, at least until the scrambling Hogg appeared to intentionally divert his path across De Glanville, at first shouldering his Bath counterpart before a tangle of legs led to both full-backs falling:
The Rec's home faithful immediately made their discontent known as a sea of boos rang around the venue in apparent disgust.
Chiefs talisman Henry Slade was permitted to clear to touch as the Chiefs recovered, and the visitors would eventually go on to overturn the deficit with a much-improved second-half performance.
Bath will argue that resurgence might never had materialised had Hogg been shown the yellow card his actions seemingly deserved, however.
Even BT Sport commentator Austin Healey agreed Hogg should have been sent to the bin after witnessing replays of the tussle.
Do you think Stuart Hogg deserved to be punished for tripping Tom de Glanville? Let us know in the comments section.
“He’s [De Glanville] definitely tripped up by Hogg,” Healey said. “And if he is (caught), then it’s a yellow card all day long.
“He nudges him with the shoulder, no you can’t do that so that is a yellow… He has got away with it.”
Hogg is back focused on Premiership matters following his summer tour with the British and Irish Lions, as well as recently becoming Scotland 's all-time top try-scorer following his 25th Test touchdown.
Even Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper could be seen looking bemused, offering an open hand in bewilderment his side hadn't received so much as a penalty.
That was one of several decisions made by referee Matthew Carley that perhaps could have done with a review from the television match official.
There was also an argument Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni should have been shown a yellow card for an intentional knock-on in the opening minutes, though just a penalty was awarded at the time.
Miles Reid's first-half try meant the hosts led at half-time, but the team with the joint-fewest tries in the Premiership this season (15) couldn't cross the line again.
Rob Baxter's guests powered back in the second act and scored via John Iosefa-Scott and Simmonds, whose late drive under the posts from the base of the scrum proved to be Bath's undoing.
The Chiefs sit fifth in the table having won five of their nine games thus far, though Hogg & Co. will hope to head in for the Christmas period on a high as they host Saracens next Saturday.
Bath remain rooted to the base of the standings and have only a Premiership high of four losing bonus points to their credit, with little riding in their favour so far this campaign.
