Fraser Waters touched down as a gritty Wasps performance ensured Gloucester
failed to avenge their humiliating Zurich Premiership final defeat of last
season.
The Cherry and Whites were crushed 39-3 in the winner-takes-all showdown at
Twickenham last May as Wasps were crowned English champions, although tonight's
meeting saw little of the drama which marked that day.
Fans hoping to see defensive excellence certainly went home satisfied but
those looking for attacking rugby were bitterly disappointed as a dour contest
failed to entertain from start to finish.
Waters' try - the solitary touchdown of the match - was one of the highlights,
coming in the second half when Wasps finally began to build a head of steam as
Gloucester's challenge faltered alarmingly.
The home side were ruthlessly professional in closing the match out -
Gloucester hardly had a sniff in the last 20 minutes - with Mark van Gisbergen,
who finished with 12 points, impressing once again.
Henry Paul accounted for the visitors' score with four penalties but along
with his fellow backs, he failed to shine in attack despite the expert prompting
of Australian fly-half Duncan McRae.
A lively opening spell betrayed what was to come as both sides threatened with
Wasps looking particularly menacing but play was interrupted by a succession of
penalties which enabled van Gisbergen to boot the home side into a 9-3 lead.
Paul grabbed Gloucester's three points - missing two other shots at goal in
the process - as they used the boot of McRae to build promising field
positions.
One drive earned Paul another chance and this time he succeeded from a tricky
angle to atone for his earlier misses, prompting a fine spell from the Cherry
and Whites who used their pack to make valuable yards.
McRae's deft kicks were doing the real damage though and save for the odd
charge from Mark Denney and John Rudd they were finding it difficult to stamp
their authority on the game, largely thanks to Gloucester's aggressive work in
defence.
Paul levelled the score two minutes after the break but try-scoring
opportunities were in short supply as the two teams marked the first 10 minutes
of the second half with a tedious exchange of kicks.
Gloucester took the lead for the first time in the 53rd minute when Paul
slotted a penalty from the halfway line and then the try the game so badly
needed finally arrived moments later.
Van Gisbergen was the architect when, spotting that the visitors' defence was
up very quickly, he fired a neat kick through the midfield which centre Waters
chased and gathered up before crossing unopposed.
Alex King, who suffered a knee injury during England's World Cup summer
training camp, was hauled off the bench by Wasps boss Warren Gatland for his
first club appearance of the season and made a swift impact by slotting a
drop-goal.
From then on it was all Wasps as Gloucester found themselves squeezed out of
the match, van Gisbergen having the last say with a penalty deep into injury
time which denied the visitors their losing bonus point.
Teams:
Wasps: Voyce, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Rudd, van Gisbergen,
Howley, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Purdy, Birkett, Clarke, Volley,
Lock.
Replacements: A. King for Rudd (59), Gotting for Leota (57),
Payne for W. Green (57).
Not Used: Richards, O'Connor, Hart, Scrivener.
Tries: Waters. Pens: van Gisbergen 4.
Drop Goals: A. King.
Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Todd, Paul, Simpson-Daniel,
McRae, Amor, Roncero, Fortey, Deacon, Brown, Cornwell,
Forrester, Boer, Buxton.
Not Used: Collins, Wood, Olver, Rimmer, Narraway, Page, Frape.
Pens: Paul 4.
Att: 7,288
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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