Paul Sampson's second spell at Wasps is already proving lucrative as he
grabbed the match-winning try to seal victory over Harlequins.
Sampson has rejoined Wasps after switching codes to play for Super League
outfit Wakefield Wildcats.
His spell in rugby league does not seem to have done him any harm, as his
score made it three tries in two games since his return.
Joe Worsley, Rob Henderson and Shane Roiser also crossed for Wasps as Quins
continued their poor start to the Zurich Premiership season.
Harlequins had got off to a flying start for the second successive match, with
another two outstanding tries, one of which was from star teenage winger Ben
Gollings.
He completely outstripped Wasps winger Sampson, who is no slouch himself in
the speed stakes. A Gollings try after 10 minutes put his side 10-3 ahead after
Matthew Leek had pegged Quins back with a penalty shortly after England centre
Will Greenwood opened the scoring after only three minutes with a try in the
corner.
However, Quins were to have kicking problems all afternoon. Paul Burke had
missed a penalty after only a minute and promptly failed with an attempt to
convert Greenwood's score.
It was obvious from the start though that he was carrying an injury but Mark
Mapletoft fared no better with his attempt to convert Gollings' score. Shortly
afterwards when Leek had also missed a penalty it was obvious that this was not
going to be an afternoon for the kickers.
Roiser completed a high-speed move for Wasps after Lawrence Dallaglio won a
line-out in the Quins half and his half-back pairing of Martyn Wood and Leek
opened up the way for Roiser to coast home.
Leek missed the conversion though to maintain the poor start in the kicking
stakes but added a penalty after 24 minutes to put his side ahead for the first
time.
It was a lead that they did not lose again and a minute later Henderson scored
another try to put his side further ahead.
The kicking fiasco continued for Harlequins when Gollings added to the list of
personnel who failed with a penalty.
The game turned against he home side though three minutes before the break
when prop forward Bruce Star was sinbinned and although Leek missed the
resulting penalty he was able to convert a try from Wasps back-row forward Joe
Worsley almost on the half-time whistle that put his side 23-10 ahead.
Although Gollings pulled another score back for the home team Sampson ran in a
fourth try for the visitors to earn his side a bonus point and although Gollings
finally landed a penalty for Quins, Leek completed the scoring eight minutes
from time.
Man of the match: Ben Gollings
It was Harlequins' third defeat in a week but for Quins chief Mark Evans it
was not as disappointing as it might sound.
He said: "If you ask for any Premiership side to take five top players out
from any one position they will find it very difficult. If you look where we
conceded tries in key areas it was around the fringes which is exactly where we
are at our weakest."
Wasps director of rugby Nigel Melville said: "It was a very good and a very
hard week and I think it showed out there today.
"But at the end of the day it's the results that count. It was vital that we
won today and to get a bonus point is a big plus away from home.
"All the team were carrying some injury or other and two had flu or a stomach
bug. But where do you go with so many sore bodies like we've had.
"What this week has emphasised is that you cannot play three games to the
intensity that the Premiership requires.
"We have played Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday, with two of those away and
you cannot prepare well. We have not trained since Saracens because we could not
get a team on the field.
"When all the players are fit and prepared I think that we have got a
fantastic product.
"But we do not ourselves any favours when we put them out in that state."
Teams:
Harlequins:
Tries: Greenwood, Gollings 2.
Pens: Gollings.
Harlequins: Mapletoft, O'Neill,
Burrows, Greenwood, Gollings,
Burke, Richards, Leonard, Wood, Starr, Morgan, Codling, Nias,
Dawling, Jenkins, Alesbrook.
Replacements: O'Leary for Burke (40), Powell for Richards (70),
Dawson for Starr (65), Jones for Morgan (63),Fuga for Alesbrook (50).
Not Used: Greenstock, Alesbrook.
Sin Bin: Starr (37).
Wasps:
Tries: Roiser, Henderson, Worsley, Sampson.
Cons: Leek.
Pens: Leek 3.
Wasps: Scrase, Roiser, Waters, Henderson, Sampson, Leek, Wood,
Molloy, Greening, Green, Reed, Shaw, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Dixon for Leek (80),
Le Chevalier for Molloy (63), Beardshaw for Reed (65).
Not Used: Page, Denney, Birkett, Macer.Sin Bin: Beardshaw (76).Att: 4,880
Ref: Ashley Rowden (Berkshire (RFU)).
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