Wasps extended their advantage over London Irish in the Zurich Premiership
with a four-try victory at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Richard Birkett, Tom Voyce, Mark van Gisbergen and Ayoola Erinle all touched
down as the visitors edged an entertaining encounter.
More than 20,000 fans watched as World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio and
Stuart Abbott paraded the trophy ahead of a thrilling game between the sides
second and third at the Madejski Stadium.
Both teams threw themselves into the physical confrontation, but Irish let
themselves down in the first half with lapses of concentration that were to
prove costly.
The first error happened as early as the second minute as the visitors pressed
the Irish line. Lock Bob Casey dropped the ball seven metres out and his
opposite number Birkett gathered the ball and dived over to score.
Irish had two penalties to bring them into the game but failed to take the
opportunity while Wasps fly-half Alex King slotted his first penalty over to
extend the lead after 22 minutes to 10-0.
Wasps added a second try five minutes later after stealing the ball from a
line-out. It was quickly passed to flanker Paul Volley who breached the Exiles
defence and sent Voyce over. King added the extras.
The home side did pull some points back as Mark Mapletoft scored from a
penalty to reduce the half-time deficit to 17-3.
The intensity stepped up even more in the second half with Irish again scoring
with a penalty after five minutes. Mapletoft further reduced the arrears with
another penalty before giving the Irish crowd a further lift with a drop goal in
the 63rd minute.
But Wasps threw themselves into attack and pounded the Irish line until
full-back Van Gisbergen eventually found a gap to score under the posts.
But the Exiles were not finished and came fighting back with their only try of
the day.
The home side won their own line-out just a few metres from the Wasps try-line
and full-back Michael Horak hit the line at great pace from Mapletoft's flat
pass to score under the posts.
But the champions responded instantly as substitute Erinle burst through the
tired Irish defence and scored from 13 metres out.
Teams
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Bishop,
Mapletoft, Edwards, Hatley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick,
Casey, Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Cannon for Hoadley (67), Roche for Gustard (49),
Murphy for Danaher (26), Flavin for Sheasby (55).
Not Used: Wheatley, Armitage, Brennan.
Tries: Horak.
Cons: Mapletoft.
Pens: Mapletoft 3.
Drop Goals: Mapletoft.
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Denney, Voyce, A. King,
Richards, Dowd, Greening, W. Green, S. Shaw, Volley, Birkett,
Worsley, O'Connor.
Replacements: Erinle for Denney (65), Howley for Richards (61),
Leota for Greening (61), Payne for W. Green (61),
Purdy for Birkett (51).
Not Used: Logan, Clarke.
Tries: Birkett, Voyce, van Gisbergen, Erinle.
Cons: A. King 4.
Pens: A. King 2.
Att: 20,318
Ref: Chris White (England).
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