Bridgend: Tries D James 2, penalty try, A Joy; Conversions C Rees 3; Penalty C Rees.Newport: M Pini; E Lewis, M Watkins, S Williams, B Breeze; S Howarth, L Lane (M Thomas, 40-50); R Snow (C Jones, 61), J Richards (P Young, 61), A Garvey, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle (I Gough, 61), P Buxton, J Forster, J Powell (A Powell, 60).Bridgend: A Durston; D Jones, J Devereux, D James, R Mustoe; C Rees, H Harries (capt; J Hewlett, 71); C Loader (A Griffiths, 71), G Williams (A Joy, 22), J Thiel, P Clapham, K Steart (O Lloyd, 43), R Bryant, G Dean (J Ringer, 71), S van Rensburg.Referee: H Watkins (WRU). There was a time when no one wanted to come to the Recreation Ground for the right reasons, because they knew what they could expect – a thrashing. That snub follows hard on the heels of the former United States Eagles coach Jack Clarke not wanting to be considered for the awkward job of restoring the club to erstwhile glories. Even so Michael Foley, the Bath team coach, insisted that he expected an appointment to be made within a week.At least whoever takes over will not be faced with the task of doing that from the lower division and yesterday Bath certainly showed a few more teeth than they have bared in the past year.

There were encouraging signs that the old West Country giant is stirring even though they have finished in 11th place. Wasps earned themselves a play-off at Sale for the seventh position and their revival continues apace.But Bath are gradually catching up. They still lack potency and efficiency in certain key areas, such as the set piece, and they need a few hard-heads out in the backs, not too many, just enough to bring in the odd youngster.Even so there were some doughty and exciting moments from the likes of Sam Cox and Spencer Davey, Tom Voyce and Ollie Barkley. Unfortunately there were also one or two crass moments, the most glaring when Bath had just fought back to level the scores at 17-17.The fly-half Barkley took a quick throw when the bulk of his side were far upfield.

The ball flew to its intended recipient, Rob Thirlby, but the full-back contrived to knock on. By then Wasps were away, launched by Paul Sampson’s try and another shortly after the start of the second half by prop Will Green.Bath: Tries G Thomas, Long; Penalties Thirlby 2, Barkley 2. Wasps: Tries Sampson, Green, Offiah; Conversions King 3; Penalty King.Bath: R Thirlby; S Danielli, S Cox, S Davey, T Voyce; O Barkley (G Knox, 18-31), G Cooper (K Dalzell, 72); D Barnes, M Regan (A Long, 44), S Emms, S Borthwick (M Gabey, 36), D Grewcock, G Thomas, D Lyle (capt), N Thomas (G Delve, 62; Gabey, 74).Wasps: J Lewsey; S Roiser (M Offiah, 7), S Abbott, M Denney, P Sampson; A King, M Wood (M Friday, 65); C Dowd, T Leota (P Greening, 65), W Green (A McKenzie, 73), S Shaw, I Jones, M Lock (R Jenkins, 73), L Dallaglio (capt), J Worsley.Referee: S Lander (Liverpool).* Sale Sharks clinched second place in the Premiership with a six-try victory over Harlequins in front of a full house at Heywood Road. Sale, who needed the bonus point to guarantee finishing just behind champions Leicester and ahead of Gloucester, won 40-11.