Wasps then showed some adventure, running the ball from inside their 22, but Varndell's kick ahead went straight into touch.
Bath had their first chance of points when Wasps were penalised for entering the breakdown from the side, seven metres inside the Wasps half, and Ollie Barkley made no mistake with the kick to make it 6-3.
Paul Sackey then showed his class, almost with a sizzling 30 metre burst. Joe Simpson was on hand, to keep the move going, but possession was turned over inside the Bath 22. Mark van Gisbergen then counterattacked down the left, beating two men, but lost the ball in contact.
Bath went ahead from the resultant scrum, when Butch James punched a hole in midfield and some slick passing created an overlap for Joe Maddock who went over for a fine try near the corner. Barkley's touchline conversion made it 10-6, and he stretched the lead to 13-6 with another penalty after Wasps were caught not releasing from a long kick downfield.
Bath went further ahead with another Maddock try, this time in the right hand corner. Barkley pierced the Wasps defence, and the ball went through several pairs of hands to send the winger clear. Barkley's conversion attempt was just wide.
Wasps responded with an attack down the left. Varndell chipped ahead and was tripped by Nick Abendanon, who was shown a yellow card. Cipriani's penalty hit the right hand post and dropped the wrong side of the bar, into the grateful hands of a Bath defender. Luke Watson was penalised for offside soon after, though, and Cipriani narrowed the gap to 18-9.
Wasps continued to show attacking intent and a long pass from Cipriani set up the chance for Sackey to race away down the left, but a last-ditch tackle just caught his ankle.
The half ended with Bath on the ascendancy and, although Wasps had enjoyed plenty of possession and terrirtory, the visitors were good value for their lead.
Phil Vickery replaced Ben Broster, to make his 50th appearance for Wasps, before Joe Simpson raced through a gap early in the second half. The scrum half sent a long kick downfield and a favourable bounce could have seen Varndell in for a try but fortune favoured Bath.
Wasps then put together their most sustained attack of the game, with referee Wayne Barnes playing advantage for an offence near halfway. They moved the ball left and right, taking play deep into the Bath 22, and a further Bath offence gave Cipriani the chance to land his fourth penalty and make it 18-12.
An injury to Tom Varndell then forced Wasps into another substitution and his place was taken by David Lemi. Four minutes later, Bath were penalised for a high tackle, just inside the Bath 22. With everybody expecting a kick at goal, Cipriani hoisted a kick towards Paul Sackey's wing. Sackey leapt up and knocked the ball back for Simon Shaw, but he was stopped in his tracks and Wasps were penalised at the breakdown.
Wasps were now beginning to play some incisive rugby and they came close to their first try, when another flowing move saw Sackey going for the corner. He was stopped just short, and his attempted offload to van Gisbergen dropped harmlessly into touch.
A stray long throw from a lineout on the Bath 22 then cost Wasps dear, as Luke Watson gathered and sent a long kick down field. A lineout ensued and Wasps attempted to run the ball from their 22, but Cipriani's long pass was intercepted by Maddock who completed his hat-trick under the posts. Barkley's conversion put his side 25-12 up and he added a further three points a minute later, when Wasps failed to roll away from the tackle, after another Mears charge had taken play deep into their territory.
Trailing 28-12, Wasps had no option but to run everything but another sustained attack from Bath set up a huge overlap on the right and Barkley strolled over for the bonus point try, which he duly converted, to put his side up 12-35.
Further Wasps substitutions brought Ben Jacobs, Dave Walder and Zak Taulafo on to the field, in place of Steve Kefu, Danny Cipriani and Tim Payne.
A moment of magic by David Lemi then split the Bath defence, and the try-line beckoned, but his pass to the supporting Joe Simpson was a shade too high and the scrum half could not hold on.
Tom Lindsay replaced Rob Webber, and Sackey broke out of his 22 and sent a long kick downfield. He was taken out late by Barkley, but the Bath centre was spared a yellow card. Lemi was then forced to leave the field, replaced by John Hart.
Tom Rees's departure brought Serge Betsen on, before a glorious run from Jacobs almost set up a try. Then, a wonderful counterattack down the right took Wasps the length of the field.
Bath received a second yellow card, with Julian Salvi sent to the sin bin, and Wasps finally found their way over for a deserved try when Simpson broke to the blindside and sent Jacobs in. Walder converted to make the final score 35-19.
Wasps will be back at Adams Park next Saturday for their Amlin Challenge Cup semi final against Cardiff Blues (KO 6pm). Tickets are selling fast. Call 0844 225 2990 or click here to buy tickets now.
