Wasps deny London Irish from going top of the Aviva Premiership
Wasps knocked London Irish off the top of the Aviva Premiership after they beat the Exiles 33-25 in a thrilling match at Adams Park on Sunday 21 November.
The result means Northampton are the new league leaders after they beat Sale 19-10.
Both teams scored three tries each, but Wasps out-half Dave Walder proved to be more accurate than his London Irish opposite number Ryan Lamb with the boot.
Ben Jacobs, Steve Kefu and Tom Varndell all touched down for the home side, while Paul Hodgson, Daniel Bowden and Paulica Ion scored for the visitors.
Wasps took the lead in the opening few minutes as Walder knocked over a penalty, after Lamb had failed with a penalty attempt of his own moments earlier.
Lamb scored with his second penalty after Wasps were penalised for collapsing a scrum.
The match burst into life when Jacobs scored a try after some fine passing. The back managed to break four tackles before he crashed over the line to score Wasps’ opening try.
London Irish replied as Hodgson was sent free to touch down, but Lamb missed the conversion.
Both teams scored penalties before the interval to give Wasps a 13-11 lead at half-time.
London Irish started the second half well and scored within two minutes. The score was controversial as forward Clarke Dermody knocked the ball on. The referee allowed play to go on and Bowden pounced on the loose ball to score under the posts. Lamb added
the conversion to give London Irish an 18-13 lead.
Wasps replied with a Walder penalty, before some fine defending kept London Irish at bay. The Exiles failure to score was punished when a Jacobs’ break allowed for Kefu to crash over the line from close range.
Varndell made certain of the points when he finished off a counter-attack by Wasps, who had turned over possession.
London Irish did score a consolation try through Ion in the final few minutes of the match to make the score 33-25 to Wasps.
Speaking to reporters, Wasps’ director of rugby Tony Hanks said, "I think it was one of those games where both teams really had a go and played the sport of rugby people want to watch. There were some issues at scrum-time, but it was a very competitive area.
The win lifts us up to sixth in the table, and we showed we are on the right track.”
In contrast, Toby Booth could not understand how his side lost the match and said, “I'm in a state of shock at what I have just watched. I am absolutely flabbergasted. I cannot believe we played like that and came away without even a bonus point.”
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