Lawrence Dallaglio's career rumbles on for one last majestic stand but for Danny Cipriani the season has shuddered to an abrupt halt. Wasps' 21-10 Premiership play-off semi-final win came at the expense of losing their talismanic No.10 for the final, and Cipriani is also set to miss England's upcoming tour to New Zealand after he was stretchered off less than ten minutes into the second half.
The injury was reported from the sideline as a suspected broken leg but Dallaglio said after the game he thought it could be a dislocated ankle.
"It's a nasty injury and no-one likes to see it," he told Sky Sports. "Danny's got a bright future and we wish him all the best." The 20-year-old Cipriani got caught at the bottom of a ruck after being tackled by Olly Barkley and was taken to hospital.
Tries from Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey and Tom Palmer gave Wasps the win. They had looked in serious trouble earlier when Bath's early superiority
finally told with a try from Alex Crockett, but Ian McGeechan's side responded magnificently in a brutal contest that left both teams battered and bruised.
Bath's cause was not helped when Barkley missed two kickable early penalties, leaving them with little reward from a dominant first quarter.
Worryingly for Wasps their scrum - missing front rows Phil Vickery and Raphael Ibanez to injury - was collapsing repeatedly in a testing opening for the reigning Heineken Cup champions. It seemed only a matter of time before their defence cracked and the moment came in the 27th minute when centre Crockett dived on a dropped pass by Josh Lewsey. Lewsey, stood in the in-goal area, took his eye off the ball as Bath pressed, giving Crockett a golden opportunity he gratefully accepted.
Barkley converted but Wasps' response was emphatic with a bulldozing run from man of the match James Haskell setting up the initial field position
But the real magic came from Flutey, whose superb delayed pass found Waters at full speed on a angle that sliced the Bath backline wide open.
Cipriani converted Waters' try and in the 36th minute Flutey turned from provider to scorer when he picked up and drove over after Sackey had almost crossed himself. Once again Cipriani added the two points to give Wasps a 14-7 lead at the interval.
Play was held up for several minutes in the second half as Cipriani received treatment on his serious injury and shortly after it had resumed Barkley landed a penalty. Wasps hit back when Waters sent Voyce dashing into space and the former England winger showed strength to set up a try for the marauding Palmer. Substitute Mark van Gisbergen - on for Cipriani - slotted the conversion but Wasps had suffered another injury blow when Voyce walked off with a shoulder injury.
Dallaglio's departure was greeted warmly by the crowd but Wasps suffered a setback in the 70th minute when Waters was sin-binned for offside.
Both sides were dead on their feet amid a succession of casualties but Bath could not take advantage of the extra man and Wasps held firm.
Stadium Adams Park
Wasps Lewsey, Sackey, Waters, Flutey, Voyce (McMillan), Cipriani (van Gisbergen), Reddan, Payne (Worsley), Ward (Buckland), Barnard (French), Shaw, Palmer, Haskell (Birkett), Rees, Dallaglio (Hart).
Unused replacements: none
Tries Crockett Con Barkley
Pen Barkley
Bath Maddock, Higgins, Crockett, Barkley, Banahan, James, Claassens (Walshe), Barnes (Flatman), Dixon, Stevens (Bell), Borthwick, Grewcock,
Faamatuainu, Lipman, Browne.
Replacements: Hawkins, Bell, Short, Walshe, Berne,
Abendanon.
Tries Waters, Flutey, Palmer Cons Cipriani 2, van Gisbergen
Referee C Wright
