Bath v London Wasps
14th September 2002

Dan Lyle looked to have sewn up an almighty come-back with his injury time try, which saw Bath ahead for only the second time in the match.

Celebrations were ever so slightly premature as referee Nigel Whitehouse allowed play to continue. Play moved back into the Bath half and Alex King attempted a drop goal. He was spot on and leveled the scores at 27-27.

What had started life as a fairly run of the mill game culminated in a nail biting final twenty minutes as Bath, who had been trailing 9-24, scored 18 points without reply. After 25 minutes, Malone and King had had a couple of shots at goal each and the score was an uninspiring 6-3.

Hints at the excitement that ultimately unfolded in the second half began at the end of the first when Dan Lyle was sent to the sin-bin for allegedly killing the ball and then questioning the penalty. A man down, Bath battled hard to defend their line under constant pressure for the last ten minutes of the half. 

Kenny Logan could have scored the opening try of the match had he taken the pass from Shane Roiser to make the most of the overlap. He knocked-on, but further chances came Wasps’ way and Josh Lewsey was able to capitalize on King’s cross-field kick to score his first try converted by King.

Bath were not disheartened and tried to come straight back at the other end of the field. Shane Roiser soon put a stop to that with an interception that saw him run 70 metres before being brought down by Tom Voyce just short of the line. As ever, Lewsey was on hand to finish the job and went over for his second, again converted by King.

After the break, Bath came out actively looking to cut the deficit, where until recently the thinking seemed to have been a less positive damage-limitation approach. Malone kicked his third penalty to take the score to 9-17, but Wasps soon matched that, and some. David Barnes pulled Phil Greening’s shirt (back at hooker having started the game in the back row) before he took Rob Howley’s pass and Wasps were given a penalty try. Alex King doesn’t miss those kicks from under the posts.

The fifteen men in blue showed shades of the Bath of old and refused to give up. Simon Danielli launched the first counter attack for Mike Tindall to cross the line, duly converted by Malone, to pave the way for the finale. 

Voyce took a long pass from Mike Catt and ran. And he kept going! Hints of the injury time try he scored against Wasps to take Bath to their last match at Twickenham, he looked to be becoming a nemesis for Wasps. He wasn’t able to complete it this time but with back-up from Danny Grewcock Bath were able to keep the move alive into the next phase. Lyle had to really stretch for the line and normal time had already finished.

The dream ending was not to be. Four points would have been a sweet ending to a hard day at the office, but two points is certainly a better option than the zero than looked likely for a while.

Rowen Whittle