Wasps reduced the gap at the top of the Zurich Premiership table to one point
but were made to fight all the way by a lively Leeds side who forced the
visitors to put on their big guns for the final quarter.
With next weekend's Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster in mind, Wasps
left a galaxy of stars on the bench but still looked as though they would have
too much power and guile for a Leeds side which started hesitantly.
Mark van Gisbergen took full advantage with two penalty chances in the first
10 minutes and the large visiting support sat back and waited for the floodgates
to open.
But after 15 minutes the Tykes settled and when they began to run at the
visitors, they started to enjoy some success and Wasps looked far less
comfortable.
The Londoners' few try-scoring chances came from lineouts close to the Leeds
line but they were unable to make them count and, indeed, the Tykes almost
scored from one such situation.
Tom Palmer managed to steal the ball, David Rees sprinted into the opponents'
half but his inside pass with an overlap was dropped by Mark Regan.
Leeds' enterprising play was starting too deep and on the one occasion they
managed to overturn possession within sight of the Wasps' line, there was no-one
there to take advantage and the visitors cleared.
Gordon Ross, whose field kicking was suspect throughout the first period, also
missed two straight penalties that would have brought his side level at the
break.
It was no surprise when Phil Davies replaced Ross with Duncan Hodge, also
sending on leading scorer Dan Scarbrough at full-back.
Hodge's field kicking immediately put Leeds on the offensive but his first
penalty shot from 45 metres came back off the upright.
Leeds eventually broke through with a close-range try from Colm Rigney in the
57th minute and that sparked a swarm of Wasps substitutions with Simon Shaw,
Craig Dowd, Lawrence Dallaglio, Rob Howley and Josh Lewsey all coming on at the
hour mark.
The extra power up front immediately paid dividends, and just as the public
address system announced Northampton's win over Bath, giant hooker Trevor Leota
crashed over from close range to put Wasps back in front 11-7.
Leeds pounded the Wasps' line in the final few minutes but lost a crucial
scrum five metres out and Wasps breathed a sigh of relief.
Teams:
Leeds: Cardey, Rees, Christophers, Davies, Albanese, Ross,
Dickens, Kerr, Regan, Holt, Hooper, Palmer, Rigney, Hyde,
Popham.
Replacements: Scarbrough for Cardey (40), Hodge for Ross (40),
Rawlinson for Regan (67), Powell for Holt (67),
Salter for Hyde (67).
Not Used: Murphy, Stuart-Smith.
Tries: Rigney.
Cons: Hodge.
Wasps: Voyce, Rudd, Erinle, Denney, Logan, van Gisbergen,
Biljon, Payne, Leota, Green, Purdy, Birkett, Skivington, Lock,
Worsley.
Replacements: Abbott for Erinle (72), Lewsey for Logan (60),
Howley for Biljon (59), Gotting for Leota (73),
Dowd for Green (60), S. Shaw for Purdy (60),
Dallaglio for Lock (60).
Tries: Leota. Pens: van Gisbergen 2.
Att: 3,194
Ref: Dave Pearson (England).
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