Olly Barkley missed an injury time conversion to deny Zurich Premiership strugglers Bath a share of the spoils in their final league game this season as they went down 24-22 to Wasps.

Barkley's agonising failure meant Wasps secured the win after staving off a spirited Bath fightback.

The home side, spared the prospect of relegation following Rotherham's blocked path to the Premiership, trailed 17-6 early in the second half before Wasps lost their way when skipper Lawrence Dallaglio was sin-binned for the second successive game.

Bath clawed themselves back to 17-14 while Dallaglio was off the field, but Wasps' former rugby league star Martin Offiah scored what turned out to be the decisive try.

Offiah - on as a substitute from the first minute when wing Shane Roiser was carried off after a lengthy delay for what at first seemed a serious neck injury - showed his trademark pace, sprinting over from 30 metres.

Bath though, dug deep to produce one of their best performances of a miserable season, and replacement hooker Andy Long's injury time touchdown gave them hope of a draw and two points which would have taken them above Saracens into 10th place.

But Barkley sent the kick wide, and Wasps achieved their sixth league win from the last seven starts to set up a play-off clash at Sale next weekend.

Roiser was able to return to the Wasps bench unaided from 20 minutes after he was carried off on a stretcher, and watched from the sidelines as the London side ground out a 10-6 interval lead.

Wing Paul Sampson, sporting a Fredrik Ljungberg red-streak hair style, rounded off a flowing 21st-minute move, while an Alex King conversion and penalty eclipsed Bath's two penalties by full-back Rob Thirlby, who took over the kicking while Barkley was off receiving treatment.

Wasps prop Will Green powered over from a lineout two minutes into the second period, and with King converting, Wasps looked well on their way to victory.

But when referee Steve Lander yellow-carded Dallaglio for killing the ball, Wasps quickly found themselves on the back foot.

Barkley kicked a penalty, and flanker Gavin Thomas crossed for a try before Barkley booted another penalty to tie the scores at 17-17 entering the final quarter.

Dallaglio rallied Wasps for a final effort, and Offiah's try proved just enough to clinch victory.

Teams

Bath: Thirlby, Danielli, Cox, Davy, Voyce, Barkley, Cooper, D. Barnes, Regan, Emms, Borthwick, Grewcock, G. Thomas, N. Thomas, Lyle, Knox, Delve, Gabey.

Replacements: Knox for Barkley (18), Dalzell for Cooper (71), Long for Regan (44), Gabey for Borthwick (35), Delve for N. Thomas (62), Barkley for Knox (30), Gabey for Delve (74), Borthwick for Gabey (40).

Not Used: Mallett, Crockett.

Tries: G. Thomas, Long.

Pens: Thirlby 2, Barkley 2.

Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Abbott, Denney, Sampson, A. King, Wood, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Jones, Lock, Worsley, Dallaglio, Friday, Leek.

Replacements: Offiah for Roiser (7), Friday for Wood (65), Greening for Leota (65), Mackenzie for W. Green (76), Jenkins for Lock (75), Leek for Friday (74), Friday for Leek (80).

Not Used: Beardshaw.

Sin Bin: Dallaglio (46).

Tries: Sampson, W. Green, Offiah.

Cons: A. King 3.

Pens: A. King.

Att: 8,000

Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).