Sale (12) 24
Pens: Hodgson 8
Wasps (12) 25
Tries: Ward-Smith Cons: Walder Pens: Walder 5 Drop-goals: Walder
 Wasps' victory sees them leapfrog Sale into seventh in the Premiership |
Fly-half Dave Walder snatched a late drop-goal to give Wasps their first Premiership away win of the season and end Sale's undefeated home run. The home side's stand-off Charlie Hodgson marked his first start of the season with a flawless kicking display. It was 12-12 at half time after an error-ridden first half with four penalties by both number 10s. Hodgson looked to have secured the win with four more penalties, despite Dan Ward-Smith's try, before Walder struck. In a scrappy encounter, characterised by a stop-start tempo, things came to life when a poor Sharks line-out gifted the visitors a good attacking position with the scores tied at 6-6. But the hosts produced some solid defending and when hooker Joe Ward crashed over the line after a series of narrow drives he was judged to have made a double movement. Richard Haughton's hesitance near his own line resulted in a penalty resulted in an easy penalty for Hodgson before Sale were penalised, and punished by Walder when he levelled the scores, for dragging the ball back into a ruck.  | 606: DEBATE |
Sale's line-out problems continued after the break but Hodgson's boot gave them a six-point lead with two more penalty successes. On 56 minutes the only try of the game came when Wasps elected to take a scrum when Sharks full-back Paul Williams was penalised for deliberately pushing the ball into touch. But the visitors conceded yet another penalty from the restart and soon after David Lemi's spill of a high ball gave Hodgson penalty number eight. Wasps went down to 14 men when Webber was sin-binned for back chat but Walder handed his side a lifeline when he landed another three pointer with 10 minutes left. The Londoners steadily gained territory and as they moved into the Sale 22 steered Walder in front of the posts from where he landed the decisive kick.
Sale head coach Mike Brewer:
"We did our best to lose the game throughout the second half and we achieved what we set out to do. "The losing of the game was our match management. When we managed the game like we set out to do we went six points ahead, but then we decided to play another type of game. "We made mistakes, turned the ball over and gave away penalties. They kicked the penalties and got back in the game. "We endeavoured to lose the game. It's entirely down to us." Wasps rugby director Tony Hanks:
"Sale targeted Dave Walder but he stood up to it and was superb. Not just with his kicking but in his all-round game. "We deserved to win and it was a bloody professional job. We showed the attitude is strong and that we are adaptable. "While there is still a lot of rugby to be played, it was an important win. We are closer to the top half than the bottom and that's important to us."
Sale: Williams; Brady, Cohen, Tuilagi, Cueto; Hodgson, Peel; Wihongi, Briggs, Forster, Rouse, Gaskell (capt), Fearns, McMillan, Ormsby. Replacements: Croall for Forster (77). Wasps: Haughton; Varndell, Jacobs, Waldouck, Lemi; Walder, Simpson; Payne, Ward, Broster, Ward-Smith, Birkett, Worsley, Rees (capt), Powell. Replacements: Berry for Simpson (73), Beech for Payne (22), Webber for Ward (51), Ruwers for Broster (76). Sin Bin: Webber (67). Att: 7,202 Ref: David Rose (RFU).
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