Bath put their poor form in the Zurich Premiership behind them to book their
place in the Powergen Cup quarter-finals with a stirring victory over Wasps at
Adams Park.
The 10-times tournament winners, who have not won a domestic Cup tie since
January 1998, stamped their authority on the match right from the start with a
forward-led performance full of passion.
An early try from England full-back Iain Balshaw - back to his best after a
lengthy injury lay-off - set Bath on their way with a converted Wasps penalty
try levelling matters for much of a closely-fought first half.
Substitute Chris Malone, on for Balshaw who limped off at half-time, then
crossed moments after the break to put Bath into a healthy lead which was
improved by Olly Barkley's two conversions and a penalty either side of
half-time.
Trevor Leota touched down in the 70th minute to put the home team in the
driving seat late in the game but, despite a further penalty from Alex King,
they could not complete their fightback
Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio made an immediate impact with a crunching
tackle on his England colleague Danny Grewcock but the visitors won a penalty at
the ensuing breakdown which they used to move downfield.
Several forward drives saw Bath drive to within 20 metres of the Wasps line
and fly-half Barkley took full advantage of the space out wide by floating a
long pass to Balshaw.
The England star - just three games into his comeback - then sprinted around
the home cover for a try in the corner which Barkley converted, via a kind
bounce off the uprights.
Wasps struck back with a promising move as Shane Roiser surged through the
middle of the Bath defence before feeding Dallaglio who was eventually hauled
down.
The ball was fed left but the visitors held firm, conceding a scrum five
metres out which Wasps clearly dominated as their opponents' front row crumbled
under the pressure.
After several collapsed set-pieces referee Ashley Rowden had seen enough,
awarding Wasps a penalty try which King improved.
At 7-7 the game was finely poised with both sides threatening to add the next
score, but it was Bath who had the edge and their efforts yielded a penalty in
the 27th minute only for Barkley to nudge his kick wide.
The Powergen Cup's prestige has slipped slightly in recent seasons but with a
Heineken Cup berth on offer to the competition winners neither team wanted to
give any ground as big hits came in from all sides.
Bath were playing with a passion belying their lowly league position, taking a
stranglehold on the game which Wasps could not break.
Barkley stroked over three points in the 35th minute to push the west country
club into the lead and despite a late first-half fightback from Wasps - they
nearly crossed in the left corner through winger Kenny Logan - Bath entered the
interval on top.
Wasps were caught unawares for the next try 42 seconds after the restart when
a promising break by Barkley saw the ball released to Malone who took full
advantage of some sloppy home defending to dive over.
Barkley added the extras and then kicked his second penalty in the 21st minute
to leave Wasps with a mountain to climb.
But the side had not given up hope and they struck back with a push-over try
from powerhouse hooker Leota which King converted, despite the acute angle.
King accepted a penalty opportunity moments later to take Wasps within three
points but the home side, who had substitute Ayoola Erinle carried of in the
dying moments with concussion, had left themselves too much to do, crashing to
only their second home defeat of the season.
Teams:
Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Waters,
Abbott, Logan, A. King, Wood,
Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Dallaglio, Volley,
Scrivener.
Replacements: Howley, van Gisbergen, Erinle, Lock, Gotting,
Kershaw, Beardshaw.
Tries: Penalty, Leota.
Cons: A. King 2.
Pens: A. King.
Bath: Balshaw, Danielli,
Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Barkley,
Cooper, Barnes, Humphries, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock,
G. Thomas, Vander, N. Thomas.
Replacements: A. Williams, Long, Galasso, Perry, Malone,
Scaysbrook, Beattie.
Tries: Balshaw, Malone.
Cons: Barkley 2.
Pens: Barkley 2.
Att: 3,912
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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