The first half, dominated as it was by the aerial battle, saw its first score 20 minutes in when Bath went offside inside their own 22. Wasps fly-half Jimmy Gopperth stepped up to give his side the lead: 3-0.

Ten minutes later, successive penalties to Bath at the breakdown gave George Ford the chance to draw the scores level - which he did with a penalty kick inside the Wasps 22. 3-3.

Gopperth cancelled out Ford's effort with six minutes remaining in the first half from a central position. 6-3 was how the score remained going into half time.

Wasps had gone closest to scoring in the first half, and on more than one occasion, but Bath's patience and defensive resolve was telling at the midway stage.

Half-time: Wasps 6-3 Bath Rugby

In the 54th minute, after a series of Wasps offensives in the Bath 22, something had to give. Scrum-half Niko Matawalu, on his first start for the Club, was yellow-carded for an obstruction and Wasps were awarded a penalty try. Gopperth's conversion in front of the posts gave them a 10-point lead.

The Kiwi fly-half added another three points on the hour mark following a Bath indiscretion at a ruck, pulling the game away from the visitors. 16-3.

Ford finally got a chance to strike back with a penalty of his own as the final fifteen minutes approached, after Bath's pack had flexed its considerable muscles at a scrum. 16-6.

Another Ford penalty soon thereafter to make it 16-9 meant Bath were in with a shot of getting a result against the odds. With minutes left on the clock, they rumbled forward in the home 22, only for a forward pass to hand possession back to Wasps.

Less than a minute was left on the clock when Wasps, with the put-in at the scrum, won a penalty with a huge shove. Gopperth put the penalty kick into the stand to end the match.

Final score: Wasps 16-9 Bath Rugby

Bath Rugby lose out to will of the Wasps

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