In Leicester's relentlessly competitive world there are three steps to heaven, and the first two have been negotiated without breaking stride. Big or small, the Tigers' appetite for trophies remains strong enough to insist it may yet be a case of trebles all round against Stade Francais in Paris next Saturday.
As domestic champions already, it is self-evidently the Heineken Cup which Leicester truly crave, not the dubious honour of being crowned as inaugural Zurich championship winners in a half-empty Twickenham.
The good news for Dean Richards is that his decision to name a full-strength side has not rebounded painfully back at him.
For the Lions management, however, the day yielded another headache not of their own making. Iain Balshaw was forced off having damaged a left-shoulder joint and, while he did not require an X-ray, there will be inevitable concerns. "We're hoping it'll settle down in a couple of weeks," said Bath's director of rugby Jon Callard, aware the Lions fly out a fortnight on Friday.
Despite Tim Stimpson's fallible goal-kicking which saw him miss three penalty attempts, the tell-tale signs of a Tiger stranglehold were visible from early on. Bath's best attacking moment cost them the services of Shaun Berne, carried off with a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments after a slashing break had been ended by Austin Healey's tackle.
When Healey leapt to his feet and immediately sprinted 20 metres to haul down Tom Voyce, it illustrated once again what playing for the Tigers means to their international contingent. That desire never leaves the tireless Martin Johnson and it was their captain's 26th-minute try, confirmed by the video referee Brian Campsall, which settled any suspicion of midlands' nerves.
There was no doubt among the 33,500 spectators that the England captain had scored after being invited to rumble at the line from seven metres out. A Stimpson penalty for offside extended his side's lead before Healey's quick tap penalty in the 48th minute caught the Bath defence napping and effectively ended the game as a contest.
The Tigers' Canadian wing Winston Stanley capped one of his better games for the club with a third try in the right corner in the final quarter and Bath's solitary response, a converted try for replacement Rob Thirlby, was no solace for the likes of Ben Clarke, making probably his last appearance in a Bath jersey.
Leicester: Stimpson; Murphy, Lloyd (Gelderbloom, 70min), Howard, Stanley; Goode, Healey; Rowntree (Freshwater 48), West (Cockerill, 69), Garforth (Nebbett, 70), M Johnson (capt), Kay, Corry (Gustard, 68), Back (Moody, 68), W Johnson.
Bath: Perry; Balshaw, Maggs, Berne, Voyce; Catt, Cooper; Emms (Barnes, half-time), Long (Regan, h-t), Mallett, Gabey, Borthwick, Gardiner (G Thomas, 50), Clarke (capt; Lloyd, 63), Lyle (capt).
Referee: S Lander (Wirrall).
In Wales, Newport overcame Neath 13-8 in the Principality Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.
Adrian Garvey gained Newport's only try, powering over in the 43rd minute after Ian Gough had won a lineout. Shane Howarth added the extra points.
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