 Wasps' Rob Hoadley escapes against Bath |
Bath: (13) 30
Tries: Maddock (2), Berne
Cons: Malone (2), Barkley
Pens: Malone (3)
Wasps: (9) 19
Tries: Penalty
Cons: Walder
Pens: Walder (4)
Bath held Wasps at bay to land a vital Guinness Premiership win at a sodden Recreation Ground on Monday.
Kiwi wing Joe Maddock scored a try in each half and substitute Shaun Berne added a late clincher as Bath shrugged off 16 unanswered points from Wasps.
Bath led 13-9 at half-time courtesy of Maddock's well-worked score in the right corner.
But Wasps forced a penalty try and the score was level at 16-16 before the hosts moved away in the closing stages.
 | The result was a reward for great application |
The victory helped the West country side climb out of the bottom three, while Wasps slipped to fourth after Gloucester beat London Irish.
Leaden skies and a greasy surface made for difficult conditions under foot and both kickers left penalty attempts short in the opening few minutes.
Bath's Chris Malone landed three points with his second effort from closer range and the hosts doubled their lead after Joe Worsley's high tackle on openside flanker James Scaysbrook handed Malone another shot at goal.
Both sides appeared to be struggling to adapt to the new scrum laws but it was Bath who ended a scrappy passage of play with an impressive score in the right corner.
New Zealand Maori Maddock finished off a flowing drive which involved fast recycling from forwards and backs.
| We got ourselves into a winning position and then blew it tactically Wasps coach Ian McGeechan |
Malone's conversion gave the home side a handy 13-0 lead after 20 minutes but Wasps edged back into the contest as the heavens opened with three penalties from Dave Walder, two in quick succession just before the break.
Despite the worsening conditions, Wasps forced a penalty try on 46 minutes after teenage centre Dominic Waldouck's break set up a period of pressure camped on the Bath line.
Walder's easy conversion gave the visitors the lead for the first time at 16-13 but Bath hit back soon after with Malone's third penalty to level the score.
Like the first half, again it was Bath who broke the deadlock when Scaysbrook's surge through the Wasps line set up Maddock's second try on 66 minutes, converted by Malone.
Wasps undid some of the damage with a quick Walder penalty but Berne's late score after a Nick Walshe counter-attack off a loose Josh Lewsey kick buried their hopes of a victory.
Bath coach Steve Meehan:
"The result was a reward for great application, and it was certainly very satisfying after our first match against Wasps earlier this season (Bath conceded more than 40 points). "We have now given ourselves a chance of winning three out of four games over the Christmas and new year period, and I thought the players really knuckled down well today.
Meehan also paid tribute to Bath flanker James Scaysbrook. He added: "I thought James was magnificent. It was one of his best performances since I have been involved with Bath."
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan:
"We got ourselves into a winning position and then blew it tactically. "Having come back to lead 16-13, I thought we had control of the game with a front-five that was dominant, but we missed a coupe of opportunities and gave Bath a chance to come back.
"We got into the lead but then stopped doing what we had been doing, which was taking them on up front.
"In terms of the forward battle, we had got them, but then we loosened the game up and played into their hands."
Bath: Barkley; Maddock, Walker, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Cheeseman; Malone, Williams; Barnes, Mears, Sigley, Fidler, Grewcock, Short, Scaysbrook, Feau'nati.
Replacements: Ovens, Dixon, Louw, Beattie, Delve, Walshe, Berne.
Wasps: Lewsey; Sackey, Hoadley, Waldouck, Voyce; Walder, Amor; Payne, Ward, Bracken, Purdy, Palmer, Worsley, O'Connor, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Webber, Adams, Hart, Haskell, Reddan, Cipriani, Leo.
Referee: R Maybank (RFU)
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 