Watson double sets up 26-31 win for Wasps against Bath

Bath Rugby 26 - 31 Wasps, Recreation Ground

Marcus Watson scored a double as Wasps successfully overcame a stern fightback from Bath to win the Aviva Premiership encounter at Recreation Ground with a 26-31 margin.

The win has taken Wasps to the second position with 39 points while Bath are at fifth with 32 points.

Kyle Eastmond's hopes of impressing against his former club were dashed when he was injured in the warm-up, leaving Fijian centre Gaby Lovobalavu to fill in.

Watson provided a head start to the visitors with his seventh-minute try and Danny Cipriani's conversion put Wasps seven points ahead.

Bath hardly had any momentum in the opening quarter and scrum-half Dan Robson went past the line nine minutes later that was improved by Cirpiani. Dai Young's side soon amassed their third try and it was Watson once again, who crashed past the line in the 22nd minute but this time the conversion was missed.

Having gained a 0-19 lead, Wasps let things slip when Watson was sin-binned in the 28th minute for a deliberate knock-on and Bath finally capitalised on the opportunity as Rhys Priestland and Jack Wilson scored tries in the final seven minutes of the first half. A double conversion from Priestland made the scoreline 14-19 heading into the break.

But Wasps struck with a bonus point try immediately after the break as Juan de Jongh finished off Robson's break from a ruck. Cipriani converted.

Unwilling to relent, Bath bounced back with a try from Paul Grant that came in the 52nd minute but his efforts were negated by Gabrieli Lovobalavu four minutes later.

Wasps then lost Willie Le Roux to the sin-bin for cynical play and Bath claimed a bonus point try through Zach Mercer but could not prevent losing the game by five points.

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