Wasps too Goode for Exiles

Andy Goode set a new Premiership individual points record in front of the largest home crowd the competition has ever seen - as Wasps began life at the Ricoh Arena in style, a 48-16 win over London Irish.

The 34-year-old returned an incredible 33 points, the most of anyone in a single Premiership game, while tries from Joe Simpson, Elliot Daly and Andrea Masi rounded off a bonus-point win.

Wasps' first match at their new home had been much anticipated and the supporters turned out in force to cheer on their side with 28,254 there to witness the house-warming.

When the ball reached Christian Wade wide out on the right-hand side in the opening exchanges the crowd roared in anticipation of an opening score but the wing was quickly ushered into touch.

Irish were guilty of not moving away when Ashley Johnson looked to pierce a whole in their defence on five minutes and Goode secured the first points at the Ricoh with a simple penalty.

A superb break from Daly had Wasps five metres from the Irish try-line but when Goode tried to find numbers out wide with a precision kick, the visitors were able to earn a defensive line-out.

And although their set-piece stood firm, good work from Johnson at the breakdown earned Wasps another penalty on 12 minutes, Goode successful from right in front.

But Irish threatened to upset the party when they crossed for the first ever try at Wasps' new stadium through Geoff Cross on 16 minutes.

Following a Wasps scrum 10 metres from their own try-line, Irish put Nathan Hughes under immense pressure and when scrumhalf Scott Steele disrupted Simpson's attempted clearance, Blair Cowan collected the loose ball and fed Cross for a simple finish.

Tom Homer, appearing in just his fifth Premiership game in nine months, added the extras to give Irish a 7-6 lead.

A high tackle on Hughes by Tom Court allowed Goode to add another three points shortly afterwards to edge Wasps back ahead, but Homer responded with a penalty of his after Matt Mullan was penalised.

Goode kicked another two penalties for 15-10 as the lead changed hands once more, although a monstrous 50-metre penalty from Homer had Irish within two points with half-time approaching.

Frustratingly for Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith his side gave away yet another penalty within range, allowing Goode to maintain his perfect record.

But an infringement at the breakdown by James Haskell with time already up allowed Homer to kick another penalty in the last action of the first half to send his side in 16-18 behind.

It didn't take long for Wasps to strike after the break, just four minutes into the second half in fact and they had their first try at the Ricoh through Simpson.

The move began when Sailosi Tagicakibau ripped the ball from Irish inside his own 22 and when the ball found Wade the wing made the best part of 60 metres, before Johnson and Ed Shervington showed quick hands to put Simpson in.

Goode missed the conversion from wide on the right - his only failure on the day - but got over it quickly as he added another penalty on 48 minutes.

Irish gave away a succession of penalties defending their own try-line but thwarted two attempts by Wasps at the catch and drive from five metres out.

The hosts thought they had scored through Tagicakibau after Goode had sprayed the ball out wide, but referee Tom Foley had already blown for a penalty against David Paice.

The Irish hooker was subsequently sent to the sin bin and Goode knocked over the penalty for a 29-16 advantage on the hour.

And just six minutes later the outstanding Goode had a try of his own as he darted through a hole in the Irish defence to dot down under the posts, making the conversion a simple one.

Daly was next to cross, finishing off a sweeping passing move that again began with a Wade break on the opposite touch-line.

And Masi went over in the final minute to round off a perfect afternoon with the bonus-point score.

The scorers:

For Wasps:

Tries: Simpson, Goode, Daly, Masi

Cons: Goode 2

Pens: Goode 8

For London Irish:

Try: Cross

Con: Homer

Pens: Homer 3

Yellow card: David Paice (London Irish, 59)

Teams:

Wasps: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 James Haskell (captain), 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Edd Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Rob Miller.

London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Jebb Sinclair, 5 Kieran Low, 4 George Skivington (c), 3 Geoff Cross, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Court.

Replacements: 16 Harry Allen, 17 Leo Halavatau, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Chris Noakes, 23 Alex Lewington.

Referee: Tom Foley

Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Nigel Carrick

TMO: Rowan Kitt