Alex King kicked 20 points and Wasps ran in three tries as the Zurich
Premiership and European champions steamed to victory over London Irish in the
Thames Valley derby.
Wasps began their season slowly, with successive defeats to Saracens and Sale,
and it took them an hour to hit the front this afternoon, but once they did
Irish had little chance of hauling them back.
The visitors held a 13-12 lead at the interval after Scott Staniforth's early
try and extended that just after the interval with two further penalties from
fly-half Barry Everitt, who finished with 14 points.
But Jonny O'Connor's try brought Wasps to within touching distance and once
King's drop goal took them ahead after 57 minutes, Wasps tightened their grip on
the match.
Tom Voyce sliced through the Irish defence for the second try and Ayoola
Enrile span clear for the third as Wasps opened a 35-19 lead, rendering
Staniforth's solo effort in the closing minutes little more than an impressive
consolation.
It was a victorious way for scrum-half Matt Dawson to begin his campaign for a
place in the England set-up after a week which could have spelt the end of his
illustrious international career.
On Monday, Dawson filmed episodes of television quiz show 'A Question of
Sport' instead of attending the first England training session under acting head
coach Andy Robinson.
What happened next? Dawson was promptly dropped from the England elite squad
and he will have no doubt been aware as he took the field in glorious sunshine
at the Causeway Stadium that those now ahead of him in the England pecking
order, Andy Gomarsall and Harry Ellis, both had storming games yesterday.
With his whole attitude in question, Dawson replied with a lively display and
his first contribution was to try and clear Wasps' lines as Irish piled on the
early pressure.
Two supreme cover tackles from from winger Matt Priscott, on opposite number
Justin Bishop and then lock Nick Kennedy, kept London Irish at bay in the
opening minutes but Dawson's clearance failed to release the pressure.
Irish were still encamped in the Wasps 22, banging away at their defence, and
Staniforth eventually found the chink, bursting onto Everitt's pass and under
the posts untouched.
Everitt converted and then landed a penalty to open a 10-0 lead after 16
minutes as Wasps struggled to work their way into the Irish 22.
They eventually got on the scoreboard through a 20th minute King penalty as
Joe Worsley, vying for the England number eight, began to stamp his authority on
the game.
Captaining the side and playing his favoured number eight role with Lawrence
Dallaglio amongst the replacements as he recovers from a rib injury, Worsley
launched a break from the base of a Wasps scrum 10 metres inside his own half.
The ball was spun wide to the jinking, elusive Voyce down the left before
Worsley took hold of possession again through the middle and when Dawson thought
he had spotted a gap, referee Dave Pearson pulled up the Irish defence for
offside.
It was an attack that turned the tide of the first half and while Irish
preserved their line until the interval, the pressure cost them lock Bob Casey
who was sin-binned for use of a forearm after 32 minutes.
By the time Casey returned to the fray in first half injury time, King had
landed a fourth penalty but Wasps still trailed 13-12 having failed to make the
most of the 10 minutes with an extra man.
Everitt then landed two more penalties in the opening minutes of the second
half, the second of which came after Wasps lock John Hart had been sin-binned,
as Irish worked themselves clear.
But they could not make use of the man advantage either as O'Connor, the
increasingly impressive Wasps openside, charged down Everitt's attempted
clearance, collected the loose ball and dropped to the deck.
King missed the conversion but landed a drop goal that carried Wasps into the
lead for the first time before Voyce scored the kind of try that earned him a
place in the England side on the summer tour of New Zealand and Australia.
He carved his way through the Irish defence and had enough pace, power and
momentum to reach the line despite Paul Sackey hanging onto his shorts.
King missed the conversion as the ball rolled off the kicking tee but soon
after Warren Gatland had made a raft of changes, including the introduction of
Dallaglio, he extended Wasps' lead to 25-19 with a fifth penalty.
And the hosts wrapped up victory with six minutes remaining when Enrile, a
constant danger to the Irish defence, took the pass from Dawson, spun out of the
tackle and crossed under the posts.
Teams:
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Priscott, Erinle, Richards, Voyce, King,
Dawson, Mackenzie, Greening, Payne, Hart, Birkett, Lock,
O'Connor, Worsley.
Replacements: Hoadley for Richards (67), Brooks for King (77),
Nwume for Mackenzie (61), Gotting for Greening (61),
Skivington for Hart (56), Dallaglio for Lock (61).
Not Used: Biljon.
Sin Bin: Hart (45).
Tries: O'Connor, Voyce, Erinle. Cons: King.
Pens: King 5. Drop Goals: King.
London Irish: Staniforth, Sackey, Mordt, Catt, Bishop, Everitt,
Hodgson, Hatley, Russell, Hardwick, Kennedy, Casey, Strudwick,
Dawson, Roche.
Replacements: Horak for Bishop (38),
Mapletoft for Everitt (59), Murphy for Strudwick (75),
Danaher for Roche (56).
Not Used: Durant, Paice, Edwards.
Sin Bin: Casey (32).
Tries: Staniforth 2. Cons: Everitt, Mapletoft.
Pens: Everitt 4.
Att: 7,957
Ref: D Pearson (RFU).
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