Wasps fight back to sink Exiles
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Wasps came from behind to seal a 36-26 bonus point win in an entertaining topsy turvy encounter with London Irish.
The hosts started the brighter and were ahead in just the sixth minute when Ben Meehan delivered a brilliant individual try, dotting down after picking from the ruck, before kicking and then collecting his own grubber.
And Ben Loader extended Irish’s lead when Oliver-Hassell Collins’ brilliant long pass found the young wing, and he did the rest as he beat his man to cross over.
But, on the brink of half-time, Wasps fought back into the contest through Biyi Alo’s score and, immediately after the break, they had turned the tide completely when Ben Harris dotted down.
The topsy turvy game took another turn when Irish retook the lead, Matt Rogerson diving over in the corner to give his side a two-point lead heading into the final quarter.
However Wasps had more in the tank and Marcus Watson sprinted his way over for Wasps to put them back in front, to the tune of three points, before scrumhalf Dan Robson then sniped over the line to secure the bonus-point try.
And they had a fifth five minutes from time when Jacob Umaga collected his own chip to dot down under the posts.
There was just time for Irish to claim their own bonus point, secured when Motu Matu’u crossed.
The scorers:
For London Irish:
Tries: Meehan, Loader, Rogerson, Matu'u
Cons: Myler 3
For Wasps:
Tries: Alo, Harris, Watson, Robson, Umaga
Cons: Gopperth 4
Pen: Gopperth
Teams:
London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Matt Rogerson, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Harry Elrington
Replacements: 16 Dave Porecki, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Ben Donnell, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 James Stokes
Wasps: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson (captain), 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Biyi Alo, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris.
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Ben Morris, 21 Will Porter, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Sam Spink
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales & Gareth Holsgrove.
TMO: Geoff Warren
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