Bath got off to a great start with a try after five minutes when Michael Claassens was on the end of a forward drive. The score resulted from a dropped pass on half way by Cipriani and Dixon picked up the loose ball and ran some twenty metres to set up the attack. Butch James missed the conversion.

Bath almost scored again within a few minutes when Bendy and Mad Dog ran decisive lines to put Wasps under pressure but Bath were stopped a few metres short of the Wasps line and the attack eventually petered out. Five minutes later Jack Cuthbert had a great opportunity to score under the posts, after Butch James put through a clever grubber kick, but the Wasps defenders just beat him to the touch down. However within moments Pieter Dixon scored Bath's second try and James converted the goal to make the score 12-0 after 15 minutes.

Cipriani cut the lead after 18 minutes with a penalty close to the Bath posts. It looked as though Dixon might score his second try after 24 minutes but was held up short of the line by some desperate Wasps defending and the Bath hooker had to leave the field with a blood injury.

Picture courtesy Empics

Joe Worsley was replaced by James Haskell on the half-hour, leaving the pitch with a scowl as he didn't want to be replaced. Despite Bath playing most of the rugby in the Wasps half, Cipriani thought he had reduced the deficit to six points, with another penalty conceded by the visitors too close to their goal line, but referee Davey disallowed the kick despite both touch judges raising their flags. However within a minute Cipriani had another chance to score and this time all three officials were in agreement..

Cipriani's conversion to a Rickey Flutey try took the home side in the lead for the first time after a sweeping attack saw the Bath defenders unable to fully defend. The young Wasps fly-half stretched the home side lead by a further three points (16-12) when he kicked a monster penalty after Matt Stevens had been penalised.

Bath started the second half with James Scaysbrook replacing (the injured) Michael Lipman and the visitors started the second half and they started the first with plenty of attacking and hooker Dixon scoring his second try of the game. Butch James missed the conversion. Thankfully he secured the points from a penalty a few minutes later with a kick on the edge of the Wasps twenty-two. Cipriani was then replaced by Staunton have played marvellously after his horrific injury.

Picture courtesy Empics

On the hour Wasps re-took the lead with a try from Tom Rees and conversion from Staunton to make the score 23-20. The pendulum again swung Baths way from the restart when Johnny F took the restart and the ball was shifted from forwards to backs with Abendanon feeding Maddock to score in the corner. Butch James then scored his toughest kick from the touchline to make the score 23-27 with Bath gaining the vital four-try bonus point. Five minutes later James had another tough kick at goal but failed to take Bath seven points clear.

Bath held out in the final minutes to secure a brilliant win, truly fantastic!

Picture courtesy Empics

Referee: Sean Davey

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS