Aviva Premiership: Wasps hold off Bath fightback at Adams Park

Wasps' scrum supremacy offered disgruntled supporters the perfect selling point to back the impending move to Coventry as Dai Young's men saw off Bath 29-22 at Adams Park.

Andy Goode toasted Wasps' December move to his home city's Ricoh Arena with a 16-point haul to consign Bath to just their second Aviva Premiership defeat of the season.

Sailosi Tagicakibau's try and Elliot Daly's long-range penalty guided Wasps to a hugely impressive Wycombe win.

Jonathan Joseph, Micky Young and David Sisi hit back with tries as Bath secured a losing bonus point, but Wasps summoned the resolve to hold out.

Ashley Johnson's turnover denied Bath an early score, before the visitors had Kyle Eastmond's try chalked off after midfield crossing.

Wasps stole a 3-0 lead to invert momentum however, Goode posting a penalty owing to Nathan Hughes' smart breakdown work.

Wasps' pack then demolished the much-vaunted Bath scrum to win a fine penalty, only to waste the 22 platform after opting for an attacking line-out.

Prop David Wilson joined the line at the inopportune moment as Bath sought that elusive first try at the second quarter's opening.

And Bath's frustrations grew when Wasps shredded their scrum again, Johnson completing the visitors' ignominy by stealing the ball at the set-piece base.

Bath hooker Rob Webber's offside raid ruined Wasps' counter-attack, leaving Goode to double Wasps' lead.

Italy utility back Andrea Masi's defence-fixing grubber almost ushered Sailosi Tagicakibau home as Wasps threatened again.

Desperate defence

Bath's desperate defence held the former London Irish winger off the ground, but the respite lasted mere moments. Wasps bullied Bath at three five-metre scrums, before the visitors somehow held Hughes off their line.

Masi ghosted into acres of left-wing space as Bath's last-ditch defence grew ever narrower, but Goode shanked the cross-field chip. However, his third penalty stretched their lead to 9-0.

Leroy Houston was then sent to the bin for flipping Joe Simpson onto his head off the ball, with Wasps dominating Bath's seven men at the next scrum.

And centre Daly launched his long-range penalty just over the bar to close the half.

Goode extended the lead to 15-0 with his fourth penalty to open the second half, after Bath prop Wilson was sin-binned for a trip.

Bath's day degenerated again when replacement scrum-half Young was sin-binned for tackling Wade without the ball as the England wing honed in on the try-line. Referee JP Doyle had little option but to award the penalty try.

When Tagicakibau raced through to score and Goode converted again just minutes later, Wasps led 29-0.

Bath's immediate riposte came through Joseph's try, and Young atoned for his yellow card with a score of his own. Ford’s conversion made the score 29-12 with 15 minutes to play.

Replacement flanker Sisi capped another Bath raid as Wasps continued to fade, with Ford cutting the deficit to seven with a late penalty.

Wasps were not to be denied, however, grinding to victory despite ever-increasing duress.