Wasps showed they are very much championship contenders by scoring 14 points
in the last nine minutes, having played catch-up rugby throughout this Zurich
Premiership clash with London Irish.
But Wasps are still nine points behind leaders Leicester in third place and
would also have to overtake Northampton as well as the leaders to lift the
title.
The scoring was opened in the third minute with a powerful penalty kick by
fly-half Barry Everitt, from just outside Wasps 22-metre line, putting the
visitors in the lead.
The Irish gave away a penalty in the ninth minute, after being found offside
by referee Steve Leyshon, allowing Wasps to equalise with a 22-metre penalty
kick from winger Kenny Logan.
Irish swept down the centre with winger Paul Sackey placing the ball down on
the right in the 12th minute. Everitt kicked the conversion.
Three minutes later Logan was banging through a long range penalty kick,
narrowing Wasps' deficit to just four points.
But it was catch-up rugby for Wasps after Everitt sent the ball curling
through the uprights with a long range penalty kick in the 23rd minute.
Everitt lengthened the visitors' lead with another penalty after 34 minutes,
leaving Wasps to trail by 10 points after a powerful kick.
Two minutes later Logan narrowed the lead with an equally powerful penalty.
Logan lobbed through a powerful penalty kick in the 45th minute to give the
5,084 crowd some hope of a comeback.
The second half saw Irish lock Steve Williams sin-binned for dissent.
Another penalty kick from Logan in the 68th minute left his side just one
point adrift.
With nine minutes to go hooker Trevor Leota put Wasps in the lead after diving
on the ball to score a try which Logan converted.
Three minutes later Paul Sampson chased through and leapt onto the ball after
it left the boot of Mark Denney.
Logan once more converted to complete a fine comeback.
Zurich man of the match: Kenny Logan.
Teams:
Wasps: Lewsey, Sampson, Waters,
Denney, Logan, King, Wood,
Molloy, Leota, Green, Reed, Shaw, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Leek for King (79), Le Chevalier for Molloy (77),
Beardshaw for Reed (61).
Not Used: Bijon, Page, Lock, Macer.
Tries: Leota, Sampson.
Cons: Logan 2.
Pens: Logan 5.
London Irish: Cunningham,
Sackey, Oliver, Appleford, Ezulike,
Everitt, Tonu'u, Worsley, Alexopoulous, Hardwick, Fahrensohn,
Williams, Halvey, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Hatley for Worsley (58),
Delaney for Williams (77), Cockle for Danaher (62).
Not Used: Campbell, Ashforth, Wright, Flavin.
Sin Bin: Williams (49).
Tries: Sackey.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 3.
Att: 5,084
Ref: S Leysham (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook