Eastmond scores as Bath down Wasps

Try for Bath: Tom Biggs

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• Bath
• London Wasps

Bath made it two wins in as many weeks at the start of the Premiership with a 30-23 victory over London Wasps at the Rec on Saturday.

Rugby league convert Kyle Eastmond scored his first Premiership try as Bath edged to victory.

In an entertaining first half, the hosts took a 10-6 lead via a converted try from centre Matt Banahan and an Olly Barkley penalty.

Nicky Robinson responded for the Buckinghamshire outfit with two three-pointers and, although Tom Varndell and Christian Wade went over in the second period, two further Barkley penalties and touchdowns from Tom Biggs and Eastmond sealed the victory.

Robinson did score a late three-pointer as the visitors went away with a deserved losing bonus-point.

Both sides endured mixed fortunes in round one of the Premiership campaign. While Wasps fell to a galling 42-40 defeat to Harlequins, despite leading 40-13 at one stage, the West Country side overcame Worcester Warriors with the last kick of the game. However, head coach Gary Gold lamented his team's performance and called for a vast improvement ahead of this encounter.

They certainly set out with more intent and were rewarded with an early penalty through Barkley, but the visitors responded with one of their own from Robinson.

It was the hosts who continued to control proceedings, though, and almost broke the High Wycombe-based outfit's defence after surges from Nick Abendanon and Eastmond.

Bath eventually crossed the whitewash when Banahan scythed through the Wasps' defence, Barkley converting.

But it only served to spur on the visitors with Wade as dangerous as ever. Although they failed to find the decisive try, a Robinson three-pointer reduced the arrears at the break.

Despite an excellent end to the first period, they undid their good work and allowed the hosts to go clear at the start of the second. Barkley had added another from the tee before Biggs latched on to a loose ball to touch down.

Nevertheless, there is a renewed spirit with Wasps this season and Varndell went over after an audacious kick from Marco Wentzel.

But the hosts effectively sealed the win when Eastmond crossed the whitewash, despite a late converted score from Wade.

Barkley and Robinson then traded late penalties as Wasps went away with a losing bonus-point.

The scorers:

For Bath:
Tries: Banahan, Biggs, Eastmond
Cons: Barkley 3
Pens: Barkley 3

For Wasps:
Tries: Varndell, Wade
Cons: Robinson 2
Pens: Robinson 3

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Tom Biggs, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Matt Banahan, 11 Kyle Eastmond, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Carl Fearns, 6 Simon Taylor, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Paul James, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Josh Ovens, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Jack Cuthbert.

London Wasps: 15 Hugo Southwell (c), 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 James Haskell, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Tom Lindsay, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Zak Taulafo, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Chris Mayor.

Venue: Recreation Ground, Bath
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth