 | Wasps (9) 26
Tries: Birkett, Hoadley
Cons: Van Gisbergen 2
Pens: Van Gisbergen 4 Sale (13) 16
Tries: Todd
Cons: Wigglesworth
Pens: Wigglesworth 3 |
Wasps fought back from a 13-9 half-time deficit to beat Guinness Premiership leaders Sale at the Causeway Stadium. Mark van Gisbergen kicked Wasps into an early lead before Robert Todd crossed for Sale to score the first try.
Richard Wigglesworth then kicked the league leaders into a 16-9 lead but Wasps hit back with tries from Richard Birkett and Rob Hoadley.
Sale had Sebastien Chabal sent off after 76 minutes, while Van Gisbergen kicked 16 points for Wasps.
French number eight Chabal was shown the red card by referee Roy Maybank for stamping in the 76th minute.
He refused to budge at first, then appeared to spit at Wasps centre Fraser Waters as he left the field and could end up in serious trouble with the game's disciplinary chiefs.
Wasps started with the England trio of Lawrence Dallaglio, Tom Voyce and Simon Shaw on the bench and all three saw action during the course of the game.
Wasps boss Ian McGeechan: "All the players at the club worked very hard this week to give us a platform to send on some of our England players. It worked well.
"It was important when Sale got to 16-9 ahead that we responded strongly, and the speed and accuracy we played with at that point was very pleasing."
Sharks coach Philippe Saint-Andre: "I don't know why Chabal got a red card.
"Dallaglio tackled him and he was still on his feet, tried to keep going forward and ended up stamping on him. I'm just disappointed for the player.
"I think when Wasps concede six penalties in a row they deserve to get a yellow card."
Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Erinle, Waters, Hoadley; Staunton, Honeyben; Mackenzie, Ward, Payne; Skivington, R Birkett; Leo, Rees, Lock.
Replacements: Barratt, J Dawson, Dallaglio, Shaw, Biljon, Brooks, Voyce.
Sale: Robinson; Ripol, Taylor, Todd, Hanley; Wigglesworth, Martens; Coutts, Titterrell, Turner; Fernandez Lobbe, Schofield; C Jones, Lund, Bonner-Evans.
Replacements: Faure, Stewart, Day, Chabal, Courrent, Wakley, Mayor.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
