Chris Malone stroked over four penalties to settle a try-free Zurich Premiership showdown in Bath's favour at the Causeway Stadium.

The Australian fly-half's first-half effort had his side level at the break and he struck three more times - one a superb 45-yard effort from wide on the right - as the visitors took control in the game's third quarter.

Although Wasps had started superbly with Joe Worsley in fine form at number eight, all they had to show for their early endeavour was a James Brooks drop-goal.

Mark Van Gisbergen gave them hope with two late shots on target but Wasps ran out of time and ultimately paid the price for too many infringements and errors.

Some players had half an eye on England's trip to Cardiff next weekend, with Matt Dawson resting a tight calf, while Joe Worsley and Lawrence Dallaglio traded places in the back row.

But this was a full-blooded contest - no more so than when Danny Grewcock and Lawrence Dallaglio tangled, with the Bath lock lucky to escape a yellow card inside the first 10 minutes.

England's Grewcock and former national skipper Lawrence Dallaglio have a history of confrontations and they traded blows on the floor with Grewcock lucky to escape a visit to the sin-bin after appearing to tread on his opponent.

Van Gisbergen hit the post with an early penalty before Brooks slotted an 11th-minute drop-goal, while his opposite number Malone was well wide with his two speculative efforts.

But Bath hauled their way back into the game after that with a feisty display led from the front by Steve Borthwick, and Malone levelled the scores on 27 minutes.

They had a one-man advantage at the end of the half when Ireland flanker Jonny O'Connor was sin-binned for playing the ball on the floor.

Wasps dug in with some solid defensive work - particularly from Tom Voyce - and hung on until the break.

But O'Connor was still off the field two minutes in the second half when they infringed again and Malone edged Bath in front with a superb penalty strike from 45 metres.

Five minutes later another transgression - Grewcock hit while he was still in the air at a lineout - saw Malone stretch the lead with his third penalty and a string of handling errors denied Wasps all momentum.

The Australian then added a fourth to leave Wasps in real trouble going into the final quarter.

The champions staged a rousing fightback led by Josh Lewsey and when Grewcock dived in at a ruck, Van Gisbergen stepped up to land two penalties inside the last 10 minutes.

But any closer would have been an injustice to Bath, who picked up four points from the win to move up to fourth in the table.