Match Centre: Bath Rugby 31-39 Wasps
Josh Bassett scored two tries for Wasps
©PA
Bath Rugby 31-39 Wasps, Recreation Ground
Wasps brushed off their off field financial issues as they edged out Bath Rugby 39-31 in the third round of the Gallagher Premiership at Recreation Ground on Friday.
This is first win for Wasps in three games as they are at seventh place in the table while Bath are still in the hunt for their first victory as Johann van Graan took over at the start of the season.
The win for Wasps came after the club owners decided to file a notice to appoint administrators as they look to secure funding amid their financial woes.
After the first 10 minutes went without a point, Jacob Umaga slotted back to back penalties in the 11th and 13th minutes to get Wasps off to a 0-6 lead.
They extended the lead further at the start of the second quarter as Josh Bassett collected his own kick to score in the corner but Umaga's conversion went wide. Nevertheless, he made amends in the 27th minute after Jack Willis burrowed from close range as the scoreline became 0-18.
The third try for Wasps came around the half hour mark as Will Porter also dotted down after a smart handling move making it 0-25 before Bath's response came in the 35th minute Will Muir fed Matt Gallagher for their first try and Orlando Bailey kicked the conversion.
As the break was approaching, Umaga slotted two more penalties as Wasps finished the opening half with a 7-31 lead.
Bath started the second half with a setback as Louis Schreuder was sin-binned and immediately Wasps made use of the numerical advantage as Bassett crossed over for his second to make it 7-36.
Just as Bath returned to full strength they claimed their second through captain Tom Dunn and shortly Wasps lost Willis to yellow card for a collision. As the game entered the final quarter, Jonathan Joseph went over the line and five minutes later Dunn completed his second to lift Bath's hope as the gap came down to 28-36.
With two minutes left in the game, Francis with a penalty goal brought the gap down to five points but Umaga replied with a three-pointer of his own in the closing stage ensured Wasps secured their first win of the season.
Team line up:
Bath: Gallagher, Cokanasiga, Joseph, Ojomoh, Muir, Bailey, Schreuder; Boyce, Dunn (capt) Stuart, Attwood, McNally, Reid, Cloete, De Carpentier
Reserves: Doughty, Schoeman, Coetzee, Roux, Van Velze, Green, Francis, Bayliss
Wasps: Umaga, Hougaard, Spink, Odendaal, Bassett, Atkinson, Porter; West, Frost, Alo, Launchbury (capt), McDonald, Carr, J Willis, T Willis
Reserves: Oghre, Hislop, Ryan, Cardall, Morris, Robson, Mills, Kibirige
