London Wasps produced a spirited second-half recovery to overcome a stubborn Bath side 26-17 at Adams Park, with Tom Voyce, Rob Webber and Fraser Waters crossing to seal a crucial Guinness Premiership victory.
London Wasps claimed a hard-fought Guinness Premiership victory over Bath Rugby at Adams Park on Saturday, running in three tries to hold off the visitors 26-17 in a pulsating Round 7 encounter.
Wasps made a positive start, fly-half Alex King pulling the strings superbly as Wasps dominated territory in the opening quarter. Tom Voyce was first to cross on 12 minutes, finishing superbly in the left corner after a slick backs move, with King adding the conversion.
Bath hit back with a Michael Lipman try on 22 minutes, the flanker driving low from five metres to score under pressure. Olly Barkley, masterful throughout the first period, converted to level at 7-7.
Wasps moved ahead again when hooker Rob Webber bundled over from a powerful driving lineout. King's reliable boot again made it 14-7. Barkley's penalty just before the interval gave Bath renewed hope going into the break at 14-10.
The second half brought more intensity, with Bath testing Wasps' resolute defence repeatedly. Barkley missed a kickable penalty on 52 minutes that could have levelled it, and Wasps punished them with King's composed penalty on 55 minutes to nudge the home side three scores ahead.
Nick Abendanon gave Bath a lifeline when he burst through a midfield gap on 60 minutes, Barkley converting to make it 17-17 and set up a nervy finale.
But Wasps showed their champion pedigree. A superb break from Paul Sackey down the right wing created space for centre Fraser Waters to step inside and dot down with 12 minutes remaining. King missed the conversion but Wasps held firm for a vital win that lifts them to fourth in the table.
Bath head coach Steve Meehan was magnanimous in defeat, acknowledging that Wasps had deserved their victory, while Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan praised the character of his side in fighting back from 17-17.