Easter bonus for Wasps
London Wasps boosted their play-off hopes with a bonus-point victory over capital rivals London Irish in an entertaining Easter Sunday clash.
Last Updated: 04/04/10 3:48pm
London Wasps boosted their play-off hopes with a bonus-point victory over capital rivals London Irish in an entertaining Easter Sunday clash.
Tom Varndell, Dan Ward-Smith and Dominic Waldouck all crossed following an early penalty try and although Seilala Mapusua, Steffon Armitage and James Tideswell replied for the visitors, Wasps ran out deserved 33-22 winners.
The five points mean the hosts move above the Exiles into the fourth and final play-off place in the Guinness Premiership, although they have played a game more.
Wasps led in the fourth minute when a penalty try was awarded after Steffon Armitage took out David Lemi as the winger bore down on the try-line.
Irish had turned over the ball in midfield and Wasps moved it through quick hands with Joe Simpson putting the grubber through, and Lemi kicking on but seemingly unlikely to get to the ball before Armitage tripped him, earning a place in the sin-bin and the hosts the score.
Dave Walder, handed a starting place ahead of Danny Cipriani at stand-off, converted from in front and then extended the lead with a 10th minute penalty following an infringement at the lineout.
Extended lead
Play was held up when Walder was treated for a blow to the head shortly afterwards, and the Irish defence held out for the remainder of Armitage's absence.
However, Simpson made a fabulous dash for glory in the 16th minute and only a desperate tackle saved the try, with the Exiles defence predictably penalised for not releasing - Walder extending the advantage to 13-0 from close range.
But Irish made their first serious break two minutes later when Elvis Seveali'i made a burst through the centre, the move setting up the forwards in good position and when the maul collapsed over the line, Seilala Mapusua came up with the ball. Ryan Lamb added the extras.
The Exiles were now competing on level terms and Chris Hala'Ufia ghosted through the midfield in the 24th minute, Seveali'i continuing the run before Peter Hewat took it towards the try-line - and Wasps were penalised for handling on the ground.
Lamb gratefully accepted the three pointer but Wasps went straight up the other end and crossed for the try of the match, Dominic Waldouck creating the opening before kicking it through for winger Tom Varndell to take it expertly on the run and cross in the corner, Walder this time pulling the conversion attempt wide.
But it was end-to-end stuff and Irish winger Delon Armitage almost got to the left corner in the 34th minute only to be taken out by two defenders, while the move left Wasps fly-half Walder shaken again, and this time it was enough for him to make way for Cipriani.
Both sides looked for another score before half-time, Cipriani making an immediate impact with a couple of promising bursts, while Rudd was the architect of an opening for the visitors that ultimately came to nothing.
Wasps had the final say though and after working the ball to the right lock Dan Ward-Smith found himself in enough space to dive over in the corner - Cipriani not able to convert leaving the scores 23-10 at the break.
Seveali'i continued to be a thorn in the side of the Wasps backs - who lost the injured Simpson at half-time - and he created another decisive break soon after the interval, but once again the visitors were frustrated in their quest for a second try.
Brilliance
And they were made to pay in the 50th minute when Cipriani produced a moment of brilliance, dummying past three defenders at great pace after Irish had turned the ball over with knock-on - Waldouck the grateful recipient who ran-in unopposed under the sticks.
Exiles refused to submit easily though, hitting straight back with a Steffon Armitage score - the England flanker's sixth of the campaign - although Lamb hooked his conversion attempt to leave the visitors still adrift by 15 points.
Again it was that man Seveali'i who deserved to cross in the 62nd minute after being put through by Hewat, only for the offload deemed to be a fraction forward.
Time started to run out for the visitors but an opportunistic try from replacement James Tideswell - his first in the Premiership - when he dropped on the ball after Warren Fury's clearance was charged down, brought them to within eight points after replacement Chris Malone's successful conversion.
But Wasps were able to retain control for much of the closing 10 minutes, a charge down the left from replacement wing Bob Baker drawing a high tackle from full-back Mark Van Gisbergen, and Cipriani's successful penalty restored an 11-point lead.
Irish were desperate to claim a losing bonus point and never gave up hope of a late score, but a turnover when in a promising midfield position meant Wasps took all the points to move above their rivals.
