Wonderful Wasps lay waste to Bath in Champions Cup
By Rob Mulhern
Last Updated: 19/12/15 9:08pm
Wasps laid waste to Bath with a wonderful Champions Cup performance that saw them win 36-10 at the Rec.
The visitors fell to a final-play George Ford penalty at the Ricoh Arena just a week ago but recovered here to deliver a three-try Jimmy Gopperth inspired performance.
The fly-half was the centre of Wasps' victory, scoring a try, four penalties and three conversions for a 23-point haul.
Elliot Daly and Alapati Leiua also crossed the whitewash for the visitors with the former converting a dropped-goal.
But the margin of victory disguises Bath first-half performance and in particular their first-quarter showing.
The home side were 7-0 ahead after Semesa Rokoduguni made good on an Anthony Watson break to dot down in the opposite corner in the opening minutes.
Wasps were also under pressure on their line-out throw, but significantly, their scrum presented a foothold.
And Bath gave them a big leg-up when Joe Simpson gathered a dropped ball to link with Daly and the centre crossed for an easy try against the run of play.
Wasps were somewhat fortunate to be leading after 15 minutes but with their scrum now firing they quickly made good on their advantage.
Their scrum proved a rich seam and Nathan Hughes' breaks from the base began to erode Bath's resolve.
Time and again, the number eight targeted the channel inhabited by Ford, but despite the size disparity the fly-half pulled off a remarkable play, somehow recovering to hold Hughes up over the line having been crushed by his break just seconds earlier.
However, from the next play Gopperth crossed in the corner.
And when he pinged the touchline conversion the signs looked ominous for Bath. The home side might have been disappointed with the scoreline and the rejigging of their front-row steadied their second-half scrum but not their challenge.
Wasps resumed at a higher gear and began to push home their advantage and in George Smith and Hughes they had formidable promoters.
Gopperth hit another penalty before Daly put the result beyond doubt with a dropped goal to leave the scores 29-10.
Then the fly-half turned creator, stepping inside the defence to link with Leiua who crossed with six minutes remaining and Gopperth of course made easy work of the extras.
