Woeful Wasps slumped to their seventh Premiership defeat of the season on Friday night
as Gloucester claimed a top-four spot in front of 10,000 fans at Kingsholm.
Two first half tries from French International hooker Olivier Azam put
Gloucester in the driving seat, and they never threatened to surrender a
17-point interval lead.
Rugby league recruit Henry Paul booted two early penalties while fly-half
Ludovic Mercier landed both conversions and struck a 45-metre drop goal to
underline Gloucester's first half dominance.
Paul's fellow ex-league star, 35-year-old Martin Offiah, made his Wasps debut
off the substitutes' bench 10 minutes from time, yet Gloucester were already
home and dry.
Offiah last played in the Union code four years ago while at Bedford, but he
could do little to prevent Gloucester from claiming a comfortable victory.
The home side finished in style, scoring 17 unanswered points during the
closing seven minutes.
After Mercier had rifled over his second drop goal - he finished with 15
points - Gloucester skipper Jake Boer capitalised on defensive hesitancy to grab
a touchdown that Paul improved.
But worse was to come for Wasps as Gloucester claimed a bonus point through a
penalty try when a Wasps defender was found guilty of deliberately knocking the
ball on.
Replacement referee Nigel Yates, who took over the whistle when match official
Dave Pearson limped off injured on 28 minutes, had no hesitation in punishing
Wasps' indiscretion and Mercier converted to complete a demolition job.
These are troubled times for Wasps, who are also facing an early Heineken Cup
exit, and there was little for their beleaguered rugby director Nigel Melville
to enthuse about tonight.
Wasps included former Gloucester forwards, internationals Phil Greening and
Ian Jones, among their front-five, but they had no answer to a storming
Gloucester start.
Azam delivered the opening blow inside three minutes, powering over from a
remarkable 35-metre drive, and, with Mercier and Paul slotting their goals, the
visitors were 16-0 adrift after the first quarter.
Although Wasps fly half Alex King kicked a penalty and dropped a goal those
contributions fell either side of Azam's second try and Gloucester were
effectively out of sight, 23-6 ahead at half time.
Wasps' South African centre Stuart Abbott, who went on for the injured Fraser
Waters, scored a 50th-minute try, yet Gloucester finished much the stronger to
leave Wasps without an away win in any competition since mid-April.
Teams:
Gloucester: Todd, O'Leary, Fanolua, Paul, Albanese, Mercier, Gomarsall, Collazo, Azam, Pucciarello, Fidler, Pearce, Eustace, Hazell, Boer.
Replacements: Fortey for Azam (51), Woodman for Pucciarello (51), Cornwell for Pearce (60), Forrester for Eustace (73).
Not Used: Yachvili, Simpson-Daniel, Goodridge.
Tries: Azam 2, Boer.
Cons: Mercier 3, Paul.
Pens: Paul 2, Mercier.
Drop Goals: Mercier 2.
Wasps: Leek, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Logan, A. King, Wood, Dowd, Greening, W. Green, Shaw, Jones, Jenkins, Volley, Lock.
Replacements: Abbott for Waters (40), Offiah for Logan (71), Friday for Wood (71), Beardshaw for Greening (68),
Leota for Jenkins (68), Allen for Volley (70).
Not Used: Mackenzie.
Tries: Abbott.
Cons: A. King.
Pens: A. King.
Drop Goals: A. King.
Att: 10,171
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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