Bath call on creative Catt too late to save the cause

Wasps 36 Bath 17

It does not get any better for Bath. This was the12th defeat of the campaign for the bottom club and they are running out of opportunities to save their season.

Although losing was not critical to their cause, the points would definitely have been useful, but with matches coming up against fellow strugglers London Irish on Thursday at the Recreation Ground and Bristol and Newcastle to follow, away, that run-in is vital.

And they will have to play better than this. It has to be said that not until they reached half-time did they get their selection right. Chris Malone is a sound kicker out of hand at fly-half, but offers very few other options to a lively back line.

So Mike Catt moved inside from centre, and, lo and behold, Bath manufactured pressure, position and a few points, conjuring up a try within five minutes of the start of the second half for Simon Danielli.

But Wasps are a top three team, their sights set on greater things, and they were never going to be pulled back. They could even afford to pull off Lawrence Dallaglio before half-time. That was to ensure that the England man did not exceed the quota of 32 matches for the season. Wasps' director of rugby, Warren Gatland, admitted he had not realised that England's summer Tests against New Zealand and Australia counted as part of the 32-match limit.

Dallaglio has 26 games under his belt and yesterday's did not count because he did not play half the match. "I thought Lawrence could play six more games for us, now it is four," said Gatland. "But if he does not play those two Tests in the summer then he will only have played 30 matches and we could have played for two more games."

It is academic, though. Wasps ambition of a place in Europe next season should be realised. They are flying, while Bath are not, despite consolation tries from Danielli and Gareth Cooper.

So all in all it was quite a day at Wycombe, what with Wasps Ladies first and second XVs being crowned champions of their respective leagues at the weekend as well.

Wasps: Tries Worsley, Abbott, Rudd; Conversions King 2, Van Gisbergen; Penalties King 3; Drop goals King 2. Bath: Tries Danielli, Cooper; Conversions Barkley 2; Penalty Barkley.

Wasps: M van Gisbergen; J Lewsey, F Waters (A Erinle, 67), S Abbott, J Rudd; A King (K Logan, 70), M Wood; C Dowd, T Leota (P Greening, h-t), W Green (A McKenzie, 79), S Shaw, R Birkett, J Worsley, L Dallaglio (capt; P Scrivener, 38 (Leota 76-80+4), P Volley.

Bath: T Voyce (O Barkley, 19); S Danielli, E Seveali'i, M Catt, K Maggs; C Malone (S Davey, h-t), G Cooper; D Barnes, J Humphreys (L Mears, 50), J Mallett, S Borthwick (capt), D Grewcock, G Thomas (L Mears, 41), N Thomas (G Delve, 57), A Beattie.

Referee: R Maybank (Orpington).