 | MATCH SUMMARY Wasps 28 (11)
Tries: Baxter (2), Voyce
Cons: Staunton, King
Pens: Staunton (2), King Bath 20 (11)
Try: Lipman
Pens: Malone (4)
Drop: Malone |
On-trial Neil Baxter scored a try either side of half-time to help guide Wasps to a tight victory over Bath. The ex-Tigers wing, who has also played American football and rugby league, produced stunning pace to twice touch down in a man-of-the-match display.
Both sides were missing many big-name players due to international duty and were closely matched throughout - going into the break 11-11.
And the game remained closely matched until Tom Voyce's 77th-minute try.
Baxter, though, took the plaudits as he bids to win a contract with the Premiership champions.
His first score in the ninth minute came after captain Lawrence Dallaglio, prop Tim Payne and centre Rob Hoadley combined well to clear the way.
And he added his second seven minutes after half-time, squeezing in at the left-corner from a pass from Hoadley.
Chris Malone put Bath back in front with one of four penalties and a trademark long-range drop goal.
But a penalty from Alex King, who had replaced fly-half Jeremy Staunton, regained the lead for Wasps before Dallaglio sent Voyce over for the match-clinching score.
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan:
"They were just playing for penalties. There was only one side playing rugby but you have to be careful not to play too much and let them in. "In the second half we controlled the contest. In the first half, Bath did that, which didn't suit us."
He also said former rugby league player Neil Baxter, who played on trial and scored twice, had agreed to sign.
Bath director of rugby John Connolly:
"For 70 minutes both sides played a similar game but then they threw their runners into the midfield. They're a side who keep going forward. "At this time of the year we knew it was going to be difficult.
"When you take four international forwards out it's always going to be a testing time."
Wasps: Voyce; Sackey, Erinle, Hoadley, Baxter; Staunton, Reddan; Payne, Ward, J Dawson; Shaw, Skivington; Hart, Rees, Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: King for Staunton (64), Bracken for J Dawson (62), R. Birkett for Skivington (62).
Not Used: Gotting, Lock, Honeyben, Mbu.
Bath: Best; Maddock, Cheeseman, Crockett, Bory; Malone, Williams; Barnes, Dixon, Bell; Short, Fidler; Beattie (capt), Lipman, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Stephenson for Maddock (58), Davis for Bory (75), Hawkins for Dixon (58), Delve for Short (74).
Not Used: Loader, Scaysbrook, Baxter.
Sin Bin: Fea'unati (22), Lipman (58).
Att: 8,656
Referee: Roy Maybank (Kent)
MMIX
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