Cipriani could not inspire his side to victory at Adams Park © Getty Images

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News: Cipriani backs England to shine again

Match Pack: Bath edge out Wasps

Match Pack: Exiles too good for Sharks

Match Pack: Saracens pile on the agony for Bristol

Match Pack: Tigers get back to winning ways

Matches: London Wasps 23 - 27 Bath Rugby

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: England

Danny Cipriani has cleared the first hurdle on a comeback trail that should lead to Twickenham next month.

Cipriani played for 51 minutes of Wasps' Guinness Premiership home defeat against Bath last night - his first game since suffering an horrific ankle injury more than four months ago. With dislocated-knee victim Jonny Wilkinson battling to play again before Christmas, Wasps fly-half Cipriani's return will have delighted England manager Martin Johnson.

Cipriani, who replaced Wilkinson and kicked 18 points when England beat Ireland in their final game of last season's Six Nations Championship, is favourite to wear the No.10 shirt in a November 8 autumn Test opener against the Pacific Islanders.

"I was very happy to get through the match, but disappointed we lost," said Cipriani, after Wasps suffered a fourth defeat in five games - losing 27-23. "Obviously, I was a bit rusty at first. I made some mistakes, which I know I can eradicate from my game after I've looked at the analysis.

"I thought my goalkicking was good, and I felt a bit more confident with my defence."

Bath, though, ensured they gatecrashed Cipriani's Adams Park homecoming as tries from Pieter Dixon, Matt Stevens, Michael Claassens and Joe Maddock secured a bonus-point win that took the west country club top. Early pace-setters Sale Sharks, who established a new Premiership record of four successive games without conceding a try last week, were crushed 28-6 by London Irish.

Irish had been the last team to claim a Premiership touchdown against Sale - last May - and they proved it was no fluke this time around as Richard Thorpe, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Alex Corbisiero and Peter Hewat all crossed. Sharks rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre said: "We made too many mistakes. If you lose the ball in contact against a team like London Irish, they punish you."

Saint-Andre also reported that hooker Sebastian Bruno will have a scan on a damaged bicep later today, amid fears he could be sidelined for a minimum 12 weeks. Leicester made it four wins out of five by subduing east midlands rivals Northampton 28-19 at Welford Road, summer signing Toby Flood scoring 19 points.

But Tigers left it late to beat a Saints side reeling from their flanker Neil Best receiving an 18-week ban from Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs earlier in the day. Dan Hipkiss marked his return to the Leicester team following a shoulder injury by crossing with eight minutes left, and Flood added a late penalty and try to put the game beyond Northampton.

Tigers head coach Heyneke Meyer said: "My hair is grey after only five games, so I don't know how I will survive the season. There was a lot of pressure on the players after the defeat to Wasps last week, and they showed a lot of character."

Richard Hill, meanwhile, is confident his Bristol players can haul themselves out of the Premiership relegation mire. Bristol slumped to their fifth successive league defeat of the season, going down 23-16 at home to Saracens - with visiting fly-half Glen Jackson kicking 18 points.

They have collected only two losing bonus points this term, and are without a Premiership victory since March. But head coach Hill said: "If we were playing terribly, you would have to worry. But we have got the firepower to get out of it - there is no doubt about that. I thought we ran Saracens to a standstill at times, but we just couldn't find the killer blow."

Worcester and Harlequins conclude the midweek round of Premiership fixtures when they meet at Sixways tonight.