Bath 27 Stade Francais 29:Julien Dupuy returned to ruin Bath's Heineken Cup ambitions for a second successive season as Stade Francais stole a dramatic Recreation Ground victory.

The scrum-half’s seventh penalty a minute from time condemned Bath to their second successive Pool Four defeat.

No team has ever reached the quarter-finals after losing their opening two group games, but that is the colossal challenge now facing Bath.

Dupuy’s late try for Leicester last term sent Bath crashing out at the quarter-final stage, and he again ruthlessly punished them.

Home wing Matt Banahan had earlier run riot, the 6ft 7in England wing repeatedly blasting through Stade’s defence.

His line-breaking prowess from broken field play was showcased spectacularly as he warmed up for England’s autumn Test series that starts against Australia on November 7.

A second-half yellow card looked as though it would not spoil Banahan’s afternoon, given that Bath had already capitalised on his dynamic contribution through tries for outhalf Nicky Little and centre Matt Carraro.

Little also booted one conversion and five penalties for a 22-point haul, yet Bath were forced to desperately hang on before Stade substitute and England sevens star Ollie Phillips touched down after 76 minutes.

Dupuy then required only one more opportunity to nail the win and it duly arrived in the closing seconds of a gripping encounter.