Wasps squeeze to win over Bath

That miss in itself summed up a chaotic season of under-achievement from the one-time rulers of England's rugby roost. At least it came at the end of a stirring second-half display which gave some lie to the claim from former stalwart Stuart Barnes that Bath had lost its soul.

Coach Michael Foley said: 'They can be extremely proud of themselves, though they are not in any way celebrating in the dressing-room. But that was the gutsiest performance I have seen from this side.'

Foley, conceding that players would be released in order to correct the imbalance in the squad, revealed that an experienced director of rugby would be named within a week. The appointee faces some task.

With Wasps dominant through the first half, Bath looked to be heading for another hiding. That first period seemed endless, not least because a nasty-looking injury to Wasps winger Shane Roiser, which required the meticulous fixing of a neck brace, added 13 minutes of extra-time.

For all their control, Wasps turned only 10-6 ahead by virtue of two Alex King kicks and a try from Paul Sampson, who had fashioned a red-stripe Freddie Ljungberg hairstyle in homage to the Arsenal favourite. Two Rob Thirlby penalties provided little cheer for home supporters.

But the tone of the match changed after the break following another Wasps try by prop Will Green.

It coincided with a yellow card for Lawrence Dallaglio, his second in consecutive matches, for killing the ball in a dangerous Bath attack.

Dallaglio, perhaps thinking of his forthcoming thumb operation, was rarely that close to the action.

A Gavin Thomas try represented due reward for Bath's endeavour, as did a late Andy Long score which almost, but not quite, levelled matters following a rave-from-the-grave run by Martin Offiah.

Barkley was consolable after his errant last kick of the game. Imagine if survival had hinged on it. Now that would have diverted attention from the guy smoking in the Press box.