Wasps struggled to victory in their Premiership opener after playing with only
14 men for 20 minutes.
Both Paul Volley and Paul Sampson were both sin-binned during the game but the
result was settled by Kenny Logan's kicking skills.
The Londoners escaped early punishment when Saracen's Luke Smith missed two
penalty kicks in the first nine minutes but he eventually found his range and
converted a kick in the 12th minute.
Then fiery Wasps flanker Volley found his way into the sin bin for holding
back an opponent in the 22nd minute.
On the stroke of half-time, winger Logan, after converting an earlier penalty,
pushed Wasps further ahead with a long-range penalty kick.
Sampson, the speedy full-back, then became the second Wasps player to be
sin-binned after referee Chris White spotted a misuse of the knee before super
kicker Logan saw his 30-metre penalty kick picked up by the wind and drift to
the right of the upright.
The match was far from inspiring but gave a chance for the home fans to see
former All Black prop Craig Dowd in action for the first time.
Saracens, trying desperately to get back into the game, brought on James
Parkes in the 57th minute to replace hooker Matt Cairns and as their pack rolled
forward flanker Richard Hill placed the ball over, but Smith's conversion
attempt hit the post.
Director of rugby Nigel Melville decided to give Wasps' new signing Rory
Jenkins his first League appearance in the 66th minute, replacing flanker
Richard Birkett.
Fly-half Matthew Leek then gave the home side a one-point lead with a drop
goal in the 68th minute before, in the fourth minute of injury time, Logan
sealed the match with another long-range penalty kick.
Teams
Wasps: Molloy, Leota, Dowd, Beardshaw, Shaw, Birkett, Volley,
Worsley, Wood, Leek, Logan, Denney, Waters, Lewsey, Sampson.
Replacements: Macer for Leota (80), Green for Dowd (64),
Jenkins for Birkett (67), Lock for Volley (80).
Not Used: Friday, Scrase, Roiser.
Sin Bin: Volley (23), Sampson (50).
Pens: Logan 3.
Drop Goals: Leek.
Saracens: Harbut, Cairns, Magellan, A. Benazzi, Murray,
Hill,
Roques, Cole, Bracken, Smith, O'Mahony, Sorrell, Shanklin,
Sparg, Winnan, Phillips.
Replacements: Phillips for Harbut (35), Parkes for Cairns (59),
Phillips for Magellan (70), Roche for Cole (66),
Arasa for Shanklin (80), Harbut for Phillips (53).
Not Used: K. Benazzi, Walshe, Hampson.
Tries: Hill.
Pens: Smith.
Att: 5,929
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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