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Wasps 38-35 Bristol

Wasps enjoyed a successful house-warming party at their new Wycombe home, but they needed a penalty try in the final minutes of injury time to deny battling Bristol.

The Shoguns looked to have gate crashed Wasps' big day as they led 35-31 with just seconds remaining after their Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi scored 30 points.

But Contepomi then turned villain when he dived on the ball from an offside position to prevent Wasps scoring what seemed a certain try.

Referee Roy Maybank had no hesitation in blowing his whistle and running between the posts.

Wasps new scrum-half Rob Howley distributes the ball
Rob Howley brings class and experience to Wasps

Fly-half Alex King slotted the simple conversion, and a relieved Wasps outfit were home and dry, securing a bonus point in the process.

Bristol also gained a bonus as they finished within seven points of their conquerors, but that will provide scant consolation.

Photo Gallery: Sunday's Zurich round-up

A crowd of just over 7,000 witnessed Wasps' first Zurich Premiership game at Adams Park, and they were not disappointed by a match that saw the lead change hands nine times.

Contepomi led the way for Bristol, booting seven penalties and two conversions, while also claiming a 60-metre interception try when he collected King's stray pass.

Bristol showed a vast improvement on their performance against Saracens a week ago.

But Wasps managed to stay in contention even though they conceded numerous penalties, much to the annoyance of their skipper, Lawrence Dallaglio.

We got out of jail big time today

Wasps rugby director
Warren Gatland

After Contepomi opened the scoring with an early penalty Wasps scored from their first attack as hooker Trevor Leota stretched just far enough to touch down.

Bristol hit back three minutes later as Lee Best finished off Contepomi's superb break for a converted try.

King, who finished with 18 points, struck a long-range penalty before Wasps had centre Mark Denney sin-binned for not releasing possession.

Contepomi failed to land the resulting penalty but he made amends six minutes later when he intercepted King's optimistic pass and out-sprinted the cover to score.

Match facts

Wasps 38
Tries: Leota, Abbott, Dallaglio, penalty try
Cons: A King (3)
Pens: A King (4)

Bristol 35
Tries: Best, Contepomi
Cons: Contepomi (2)
Pens: Contepomi (7)

At 17-8 ahead, Bristol looked to be well in charge, but Wasps collected their second try five minutes before the break when centre Stuart Abbott rounded off a flowing move.

King's conversion brought Wasps to within two points, and then another King penalty gave the home side a one-point half-time lead after Best was yellow-carded.

Contepomi took charge during the third quarter, landing three penalties during a nine-minute spell, but King's third penalty kept Wasps in touch.

Wasps' summer signing Rob Howley then darted clear and put the supporting Dallaglio over for a try which King improved, and Contepomi and King then exchanged further penalties.

A 77th-minute Contepomi penalty looked to have done the trick for Bristol, but then the Argentine's rash intervention handed Wasps a last-gasp victory.

Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Abbott, Denney, Logan, A. King, Howley, Molloy, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Biljon, Greening, Rudd, Wigran, Dowd, Beardshaw, McCarthy.

Bristol: Best, Daniel, Rees, Shaw, Christophers, Contepomi, Pichot, Crompton, Nelson, White, Archer, A. Brown, Sturnham, Lipman, Beattie.
Replacements: Rowland, E. Bergamaschi, Sheridan, Salter, Johnstone, Richards, Drahm.

Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).


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