Grinning Gloucester beat Whimping Wasps
October 4, 2008 by T0mmi19
Gloucester (14) 24
Tries: Vainikolo, Walker Cons: Walker Pens: Walker 3 Drop-goals: Lamb
Wasps (13) 19
Tries: Robinson, Haskell Pens: Staunton 2, Walder
Gloucester beat Wasps to give them a completely miserable start to the season and launched their EDF Energy Cup campaign with a narrow win.
The visitors took the lead through Mark Robinson’s try but it was Willie Walker, Ryan Lamb and Lesley Vainikolo who gave Gloucester the lead, 14-8. James Haskell scored, along with a Walker try and penalty, which saw Gloucester home and dry.
Wasps fly-half, Danny Cipriani, was out injured because of a bad ankle. The 20-year-old fly-half had been due to start the game on the bench but is in recovery from serious injury. He did however manage to play 51 minutes in Wasps’ defeat against Bath on Wednesday, after four months out with a dislocated fracture of the ankle and Wasps decided not to risk him and cause more serious injury.
Wasps boss, Ian McGeechan, was rather annoyed by Cipriani’s absence, insisting: “Danny is just sore. It’s a three-day recovery and it was just too quick - there is certainly no problem.”
The visitors gained possession at a Gloucester line-out and after Odejobi made the initial break through the middle Tom Voyce carried play on down the left wing and Robinson picked up a loose ball to dive over in the corner.
Walker joined in the match with a penalty after 16 minutes and after Jeremy Staunton - who missed three shots at goal - failed with a penalty attempt, Lamb gave the hosts the lead. The young fly-half, who was dropped earlier in the season after one flaky display too many, scored a stunning snap drop-goal to make it 6-5.
Lamb then produced a fine delayed pass to help a Gloucester attack and, although Wasps managed to halt second-row Alex Brown, Lamb kicked to the far corner from the next phase and Vainikolo was on hand to touch down.
Reaction: Gloucester 24-19 Wasps
Wasps fly-half, Staunton, and Gloucester full-back, Walker, meant the hosts led 14-8 approaching the break.
Haskell scored from close range just before the break, but it was “Stunning” Staunton’s missed conversion that meant Gloucester led by just one point at half-time and they extended their advantage early in the second half with a fine try.
Lamb’s superb long pass set Vainikolo free down the left and the powerful winger drew two men before flipping an inside pass to Walker, who dotted down under the posts before adding the conversion.
Staunton trimmed the gap once more with a penalty with half an hour left to play but Walker kicked his third penalty with 11 minutes left to stay well ahead of the game.
Dave Walder later landed a late penalty of his own to get Wasps within five points but Gloucester were much the better side and Wasps, the champions of England, have now won just one game out of six this season.
Wasps boss Ian McGeechan says:
“We played well to get the (losing) bonus point here and the forwards were outstanding today.
“There were a lot of players there playing in a competition like this for the first time and I thought they did well, particularly up front.”
Gloucester boss Dean Ryan later said to reporters:
“I am happy with that win. We lost in the last minute last year and it was almost set up for a repeat.
“When you play Wasps, you want the result. Performances are there week in and week out but if you have a ding-dong against Wasps, you are happy to come out on top.
“This gives us a chance to push some resources at this competition in the later games. We will look at this and think we let them back into the match but I’m pleased with the win.”
Picture credit: BBC Sport
Gloucester: Walker; Foster, Adams, Tindall, Vainikolo; Lamb, R Lawson; Dickinson, Azam, Young, Bortolami, Brown, Satala, Hazell, Strokosch.
Replacements: S Lawson for Azam (49), Eustace for Bortolami (47), Buxton for Satala (52).
Not Used: Thomas, Lewis, Trinder, Morgan.
Wasps: Mitchell; Odejobi, Hoadley, Waldouck, Voyce; Staunton, Robinson; French, Webber, Holford, Shaw, Birkett, Haskell, Betsen, Worsley.
Replacements: Walder for Hoadley (56), Reddan for Robinson (47), Beech for French (74), Leo for Betsen (64).
Not Used: Ibanez, Varley, Hart.
Att: 7,864
Ref: Martin Fox (RFU).
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