 | POWERGEN CUP Wasps (20) 40:
Tries: Gotting, Sackey, Lewsey, Brooks
Cons: King (2), Van Gisbergen (2)
Pens: King (2), Van Gisbergen (2) Blues (0) 19:
Tries: Czekaj, Rush, Molitika
Cons: Robinson (2) Att: 6,427 |
Wasps secured a bonus-point win by scoring four tries in a clinical Powergen Cup win at Causeway Stadium. Ben Gotting scored the first after just eight minutes and Ben Sackey crossed late in the half as the home side built a 20-0 first-half lead.
Josh Lewsey added the third try before the Blues threatened and unlikely comeback with tries from Chris Czekaj, Xavier Rush and Mama Molitika.
But Wasps ensured they had the final say as James Brooks crossed late on.
Apart from the Blues' seven-minute purple patch, Wasps - with Lawrence Dallaglio back after ankle surgery - were totally dominant from start to finish.
Alex King's eighth minute penalty got the ball rolling and then Gotting crossed for their opening try six minutes later.
Winger Sackey made the decisive break inside the Blues' 22 and found the hooker on his left shoulder as he fell under Craig Morgan tackle.
Nicky Robinson put a penalty wide for the Blues in their one an only scoring opportunity of the first half, but King was not as wasteful as he slotted over a second straightforward penalty.
A typically forceful break from flanker Jonny O'Connor should have brought a second Wasps try but lock John Hart dropped an easy pass with the tryline in sight.
But the home side kept the Blues penned in their own 22 and they eventually ran out of defenders as Sackey picked up Stuart Abbott's loose long pass to score in the right corner
King added a superb conversion which typified Wasps' clinical first-half display.
The Blues were their own worst enemy as they started the second-half in the worst possible fashion.
Robinson's attempted clearance kick struck Abbott and Lewsey reacted quickly to collect the loose ball and then ran clear to score under the posts. King converted.
Mark van Van Gisbergen, who replaced King, then took the score to 33-0 with two penalties and the game was effectively over.
But then proceedings took a completely unexpected turn.
Robinson's superb long pass freed Czekaj and the pacey winger crossed in the right corner after chipping over the last man.
Rush then marked his first start for the Blues with a try which was quickly followed by Molitika's score.
Wasps held their nerve, though, and collected a bonus point when Brooks benefited from another Robinson error to score under the posts.
Wasps number eight Lawrence Dallaglio:
"We played some great football in the first half, but we blotted our copybook a little bit in the second half. "I wasn't as much of an influence as I would have liked but I'm coming in seven our eight games behind everyone.
"It's going to take me a bit of time, and on the evidence of this performance I've got a lot of catching up to do."
Blues coach Dai Young:
"We didn't really touch the ball in the first 60 minutes. I thought they put us under pressure in nearly every department. "We found it difficult to deal with their rush defence even though we knew what they were going to do.
"We found a way around it in the last 20 minutes and exploited it but a lot of respect goes to Wasps."
Wasps: Voyce; Sackey, Waters, Abbott, Lewsey; King, M. Dawson; Bracken, Gotting, J. Dawson, Hart, Birkett, Worsley, O'Connor, Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: Ibanez, Payne, Skivington, Lock, Reddan, Brooks, Van Gisbergen.
Blues: R. Williams (capt); Czekaj, J. Robinson, Shanklin, Morgan; N. Robinson, R. Powell; Yapp, Goodfield, M. Jones, D. Jones, Sidoli, A. Powell, M. Williams, Rush.
Replacements: Evans, Johnson, Quinnell, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Phillips, Thomas.
Referee: C White (RFU)
MMIX
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Wasps outplayed the Blues. No Excuses, no Complaints - good game
