Buzzing Wasps close in
England star Danny Cipriani scored 19 points as Wasps kept up their play-off charge with a 49-12 demolition of struggling Worcester.
Last Updated: 18/04/08 9:00pm
England star Danny Cipriani scored 19 points as Wasps kept up their play-off charge with a 49-12 demolition of struggling Worcester.
The European champions ran in seven tries on their way to a fifth successive Premiership win and are now just three points off the top four with a game in hand.
Facing the prospect of a midweek clash with play-off rivals Sale, Wasps coach Shaun Edwards rang the changes, with England internationals Joe Worsley and Tom Voyce returned to the fray after long spells out with injury.
But it was Worcester, unbeaten in four, who had the first chance to put points on the board after three minutes, only for Shane Drahm's penalty to sail wide of the posts.
The home side quickly reponded, notching up their first try on 16 minutes through Riki Flutey, after the Wasps centre was fed by Cipriani - who then added the conversion.
On 21 minutes Worcester's Matt Cox was sin-binned for foul play and the Warriors quickly paid the price, as Pat Barnard crashed over a minute later from close range.
Wasps took further advantage when Dominic Waldouck broke down the right before finding Cipriani inside, who scored under the posts and then slotted the extras.
But Cox did make some amends on his return with a try just before the break, converted by Drahm.
Domination
After the break Wasps continued their domination as Mark Van Gisbergen - on at half-time for Flutey - outpaced a stretched Worcester defence to score and Cipriani once again converted.
On 55 minutes Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio was yellow-carded but his absence was never going to make any difference to the result.
Ten minutes before the end the gloss was taken off Wasps' performance as Dave Walder, who had just been brought off the bench, was stretchered off.
That did not stop the scoring, however, as a couple of minutes later Shaw went over after a smart pass inside by Cipriani.
Worcester were increasingly ragged and Tom Voyce used his pace against a tired defence to score a fantastic solo try.
Van Gisbergen quickly grabbed his second and Wasps' seventh try and although Matt Mullen crossed in added time for the visitors, it was of no consolation after such a thorough drubbing.
