Bath (9) 22
Try: Faamatuainu Pens: James 5 Con: James

Wasps (11) 14
Try: Flutey Pens: Cipriani 2, Staunton

Bath are kept off the top on points difference

Bath produced a determined second-half showing to overcome a spirited Wasps side and move level on points with Leicester and Harlequins at the top.

The hosts emerged from the break two points down, but a try from flanker Jonny Faamatuainu on the hour edged them into the lead.

Penalties from Jeremy Staunton and Butch James duly preserved their advantage through to the final whistle.

The result means the top five sides are separated by just two points.

Bath's happiness was dampened by a neck injury to captain Michael Lipman who required oxygen as he was carried off in the second half.

The back-rower was out for over a month earlier this year after struggling to recover from concussion.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan:
"I thought the scrum was absolutely dominant, and we built the victory on that. It was a really tough battle. They are a very good side, a very proud club and you are not going to ever get an easy night from them."

He also assured fans that Lipman was receiving the best care possible: "The best case scenario is it is a whiplash injury. It is not concussion. We always treat these things seriously. It all depends on the nature of the injury.

"He is a brave player, and brave players get into positions and put their teams first. It is not the sort of news you want, and you never want to see players carried off."

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan:
"We were outstanding tonight, having played the second half without the ball.

"I thought it was absolutely superb, probably a bigger performance than Bath expected.

"We will keep pushing on, and tonight we proved the sort of attitude we will take into every game."

Bath: Abendanon, Maddock, Crockett, Hape, Banahan, James, Bemand, Flatman, Mears, Bell, Harrison, Short, Beattie, Lipman, Faamatuainu.
Replacements: Hooper for Short (43), Scaysbrook for Lipman (52). Not Used: Hawkins, Jarvis, Baxter, Berne, Higgins.

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Mitchell, Waldouck, Flutey, Voyce, Cipriani, Simpson, French, Ward, Payne, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Betsen, Hart.
Replacements: Staunton for van Gisbergen (47), Baker for French (40), Webber for Ward (52), Skivington for Birkett (52), Rees for Betsen (67), Haskell for Hart (52). Not Used: Honeyben.

Att: 10,600

Ref: Rob Debney (Leicestershire).

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