Champions Wasps registered their fifth successive Zurich Premiership victory,
in a tense and hard-fought tussle at the Recreation Ground.
England wing Tom Voyce played a decisive role in sinking his former club,
scoring an early interception try - while Ed Thrower kicked 11 points, and
fly-half James Brooks slotted a late drop-goal.
The win leaves Wasps neatly tucked in behind the early Premiership
pace-setters before a fortnight's break for Heineken Cup action. They begin
their European title defence against Biarritz next Sunday.
Bath gave it everything, but three Olly Barkley penalties and a late converted
try by substitute Chris Malone saw them fall narrowly short.
Wasps, following early-season defeats against Saracens and Sale Sharks, are
slowly moving through the gears - even though they have a debilitating injury
list.
Lawrence Dallaglio's men will need to make another step up in the Heineken Cup
arena, yet their priceless ability to win tight games once again surfaced in
front of a 10,500 league record crowd for Bath.
Barkley was at the heart of Bath's best attacking moments, and their forwards
were predictably robust. Wasps, though, won the key battles when it mattered.
Wasps, the only visiting team to win a league game at Bath last season,
arrived in the west country without five injured English internationals after
scrum-half Matt Dawson (hamstring) joined Josh Lewsey, Stuart Abbott, Simon Shaw
and Fraser Waters as high-profile absentees.
Prop Will Green returned after recovering from a shoulder problem, though,
while Bath retained the team which drew 16-16 with Leicester last weekend.
Wasps made a dream start - thanks to Bath's generosity - when a grateful Voyce
sprinted over from 60 metres.
Bath dominated possession from the kick-off, but full-back Lee Best's intended
pass to wing Brendon Daniel was intercepted by Voyce who emphatically took his
chance.
Thrower's conversion put Wasps 7-0 up inside two minutes, and given that the
last two games between the clubs - including the Zurich Premiership final five
months ago - had produced a total of only 32 points, Bath could feel deeply
frustrated.
Barkley narrowed the gap with a 16th-minute penalty, and there was little to
choose between the teams after an aggressively-fought opening quarter.
Bath, determined to build on a mighty performance by their pack at Leicester,
displayed distinct signs of gaining forward supremacy. But Thrower's opening
penalty success restored the visitors' seven-point advantage.
Barkley booted his second penalty eight minutes before half-time, and home
coach John Connolly made an immediate substitution - replacing tighthead prop
Duncan Bell with England international Matt Stevens.
Bath pushed for a score as the interval approached, but great defensive work
from Dallaglio snuffed out a try-scoring opportunity when Barkley's clever kick
almost found centre Mike Tindall.
It was a predictable war of attrition, yet Bath should have gone ahead when
scrum-half Martyn Wood's rolling kick into space bounced perfectly for unmarked
wing Andrew Higgins.
Higgins initially looked to have grounded the ball, but referee Steve Lander
sought clarification from video official Geoff Warren. Replays showed that
possession had agonisingly squirted out of Higgins' grasp, and a golden
opportunity was missed as Wasps trooped off 10-6 ahead at half-time.
Thrower had two chances to extend Wasps' lead with long-range penalty kicks in
rapid succession. His first attempt drifted wide, but the second unluckily
bounced back off the crossbar - and Bath hurriedly cleared possession.
Both sides needed a flash of inspiration from what had developed into a
stamina-sapping encounter, and injuries inevitably took their toll with Wood
going off and Wasps' limping fly-half James Brooks requiring treatment on his
left hamstring.
Thrower's second successful penalty edged Wasps a converted try in front at
13-6, only for Barkley to find his range from almost 50 metres and ensure an
intense closing quarter.
Wood's replacement Nick Walshe, and Thrower - courtesy of a mis-directed kick
by Voyce which caught Bath flat-footed - both made threatening breaks deep into
the heart of opposition territory, but another Thrower penalty kept Wasps seven
points clear.
Brooks' 74th-minute drop-goal made the game safe - inflicting a second home
defeat of the campaign on Bath following Newcastle's triumph last month, even
though Malone's late touchdown produced an exciting finale and secured a losing
bonus point.
Teams:
Bath: Best, Higgins, Fleck, Tindall, Daniel, Barkley, Wood,
Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Malone for Best (74), Davey for Daniel (47),
Walshe for Wood (52), Mears for Humphreys (58),
Stevens for Bell (31).
Not Used: Scaysbrook, Fidler.
Tries: Malone.
Cons: Barkley.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Thrower, Richards, Erinle, Voyce, Brooks,
Biljon, Payne, Greening, Green, Hart, Birkett, Worsley,
O'Connor, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Hoadley for Erinle (74), King for Brooks (79),
Leota for Greening (61), Mackenzie for Green (61).
Not Used: Nwume, Lock, Haskell.
Tries: Voyce. Cons: Thrower. Pens: Thrower 3.
Drop Goals: Brooks.
Att: 10,500
Ref: S Lander (RFU).
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