London Irish regained fourth place in the Zurich Premiership and stayed firmly
on course for Heineken Cup qualification next season by sinking Wasps at a
sodden Madejski Stadium.
Despite encountering persistent heavy rain and a slippery surface, the Exiles
scored tries through prop Mike Worsley, scrum-half Hentie Martens and wing
Justin Bishop.
Scottish international Kenny Logan collected all Wasps' points from four
first-half penalties and a late consolation try, but Irish ran out comfortable
winners, helped by fly-half Barry Everitt's 16-point haul.
Wasps went into the game amid increasing speculation about their rugby
director Nigel Melville's future.
Melville is clear favourite to replace Philippe Saint-Andre as Gloucester
supremo after the Frenchman's three-year Kingsholm reign ended on Saturday, and it
was against such a back drop that Wasps targeted a sixth Premiership victory
from their last eight starts.
Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio was absent though, the Wasps
back-row giant's comeback still on hold after he underwent knee reconstruction
surgery last summer.
Everitt, the Premiership's top points scorer this term, booted Irish into a
sixth-minute lead, but Logan quickly levelled through an impressive 40-metre
penalty strike.
Wing Logan's second successful penalty rewarded a spell of forward-dominated
Wasps pressure - former All Blacks Craig Dowd and Ian Jones were robust
ball-carriers - yet Irish immediately hit Wasps where it hurts most, on the
scoreboard.
Player-coach Brendan Venter weaved through the Wasps midfield, setting up an
attacking platform from which possession was smartly recycled and allowed
Worsley to crash over.
Everitt converted, before he rifled home a 25-metre drop goal that left Wasps
grateful for Logan's third successful penalty to keep them in contention
following a torrid spell.
Just when they looked to have weathered the storm though, a blunder by
scrum-half Martyn Wood gifted Irish their second try.
Wood's poor defensive clearance was charged down by his Exiles counterpart,
South African Martens, and the former Springbok gathered a kind bounce to
compound Wasps' problems with the sort of score that would justifiably have left
Melville screaming in frustration.
Everitt sent the conversion attempt wide, but he made amends with a
36th-minute penalty.
Despite Logan landing a 50-metre penalty during first-half stoppage time,
Wasps still had a mountain to climb, trailing 21-12 at the break.
Deteriorating conditions made passing an occupational hazard, yet Irish held a
trump card in Everitt, whose goalkicking did not suffer despite the relentless
rain.
His third penalty put Irish 12 points clear, prompting Melville's first
substitution as he took off an erratic Wood and replaced him with Mike Friday.
Entering the final quarter, Wasps knew they had to breach a superbly-drilled
Irish defence, and when substitute prop Rob Hardwick was sin-binned for a
technical offence, Irish found themselves under huge set-piece pressure.
But even against seven forwards, Wasps could not take advantage, and Martens
sparked a sensational Exiles break-out which led to their third try on 63
minutes.
Martens' initial chip and chase took Irish away from danger and home skipper
Ryan Strudwick kicked the ball on, but just when Wasps wing Shane Roiser looked
to have snuffed out the danger, he let possession slip away from his grasp and
opposite number Bishop did the rest.
Everitt's conversion took Irish past 30 points, ending all hope of a Wasps
fightback and leaving the Exiles to push flat out for a bonus point.
But it was Wasps who had the last word when Logan capped an impressive
personal performance by capitalising on a defensive lapse and touching down,
albeit too little, too late.
Teams:
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Venter, Bishop,
Everitt, Martens, Worsley, Drotske, Halford, Strudwick,
Williams, Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Brown for Horak (80), Hoadley for Appleford (68),
Edwards for Martens (66), Kirke for Drotske (46),
Hardwick for Halford (47), Delaney for Williams (65),
Halvey for Gustard (73).
Sin Bin: Hardwick (61).
Tries: Worsley, Martens, Bishop.
Cons: Everitt 2.
Pens: Everitt 3.
Drop Goals: Everitt.
Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Logan, Leek, Wood,
Dowd,
Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Jones, Lock, Volley, Worsley.
Replacements: Offiah for Roiser (65), Friday for Wood (56),
Jenkins for Dowd (71), Greening for Leota (64),
Beardshaw for Shaw (70), Molloy for Worsley (71).
Not Used: Abbott.
Tries: Logan.
Pens: Logan 4.
Att: 7,848
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook