Australia full-back Kurtley Beale ran in two of Wasps' three tries as the Aviva Premiership leaders won 24-3 at Bath.
Match Stats
Bath tries: -
Conversions: -
Penalties: Homer (40)
Wasps tries: Wade (13), Beale (25, 66)
Conversions: Gopperth (13, 25, 66)
Penalties: Gopperth (49)
Match Report
Australia full-back Kurtley Beale ran in two of Wasps' three tries as the Aviva Premiership leaders cruised to a straightforward 24-3 win over Bath in front of a sell-out crowd of 14,509 at the Recreation Ground.
The hosts, on the back foot throughout, could only muster a penalty by Tom Homer in front of a sell-out crowd of 14,509 at the Recreation Ground and their prospects of finishing in the play-off places stayed looking slim.
The rest of the visitors' points came from an early try by Christian Wade and three conversions and a penalty from Jimmy Gopperth.
Bath soon found themselves on the defensive and were fortunate not to concede more than one try in the first quarter.
That came on 13 minutes when Danny Cipriani wrong-footed the Bath defence with Alex Rieder in support. The number eight had a simple job to send Wade in for his 12th Premiership try of the campaign, and Gopperth converted.
Home supporters hoped Dave Denton had crossed in the corner on 21 minutes but, as against Bristol last weekend, the Scotland flanker could not get the ball down before being bundled into touch in goal.
Wasps went straight back on the offensive and added a second try through Beale. Centre Tommy Taylor was involved twice, first setting up a ruck and then stepping though the Bath defensive line to connect with the Wallaby's angled run across the posts to the try-line.
Gopperth's conversion made it 14-0 - a perfectly fair reflection of Wasps gaining fully two thirds of territory and possession.
The visitors wasted a good opportunity from a scrum after Adam Hastings knocked on trying to gather another of Beale's searching kicks out of defence, and Gopperth had a score ruled out when Alapati Leiua's return pass was ruled forward after being referred to the television match official.
Bath's only real advantage was in the scrum. When Wasps again folded under pressure on the stroke of half-time, Homer raised hopes with a penalty from 20 metres.
There was certainly more eagerness about the home side's efforts after the break, while Wasps had to contend with the loss of second row James Gaskell with a leg injury.
But when scrum-half Chris Cook ran a needless blocking line to help Semesa Rokoduguni field a high kick, Gopperth restored the 14-point advantage at 17-3.
Taulupe Faletau was one of the few bright sparks in the Bath performance but his team-mates could not capitalise on the Wales number eight's pace and strength as a ball-carrier.
Instead, Wasps ramped up the pressure in the last 20 and fingertip passing put Beale over in the corner for his second try on 65 minutes, converted by Gopperth. A bonus-point try eluded them, however.
Match Reaction
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young on whether Kurtley Beale will stay: "By virtue of being a quality player, Kurtley has a lot of options. We're expecting a decision over the next week but there's quite a lot for him to think about - whether he wants another season in the Premiership or go back to Australia. I'm sure he has plenty of options to consider.
"Fingers crossed, he stays. But if he doesn't we want to make sure he finishes strongly. He's got better with every game and today was his best yet for us. It was always agreed that we see how this season goes and how he and his girlfriend settle in. He's got his international career to think about.
"If it ends up being a year, it's a year we wouldn't have changed. If we can extend it, which we are hoping to do, we'll be really pleased. If we can't, it will have been a worthwhile exercise."
Young on how his players stepped up: "This is the best we have played in the block of four games (during the Six Nations). Now we are in the business end. We've got Worcester and Bristol, two teams who will be scrapping for their lives. There's no easy games for us but we are in a very strong position, one I am very pleased with.
"Today we took a big stride in cementing our place in the top four. That's the important thing. Then you've got four games to cement ourselves in the top two. It's not a foregone conclusion by any means."
Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder on his side's display: "Overall, we didn't show any teeth, particularly in the first half," he said. "We were far too passive and waited for Wasps to attack us. They just showed what a good side they are when they get a roll on and get momentum. We were on the back foot the whole game.
"Then we probably tried too hard. We kicked the ball back to them - and they kept attacking us. We looked tired out there, just hanging on. We need this chance to regroup. We're a far better team than we showed out there. We'll get our internationals back and attack the last quarter of this competition."
