Defending Heineken Cup champions Wasps continued their march towards the
quarter-finals with a hard-fought victory at Calvisano's San Michele ground.
The 100th Cup game involving an Italian club was not one to remember for the
home fans - despite a brave fourth-quarter comeback by their side.
The crowd was soon deflated by the skills of a superior Wasps side missing
Lawrence Dallaglio and match-winning fullback Mark Van Gisbergen, who were both
rested.
Calvisano started strongly, even opening the scoring with a Gerard Fraser
penalty goal in the sixth minute, but it was only a matter of time before their
resistance was broken.
Winger Michael Roberts and backrower Mark Lock ran in tries to give Wasps a
12-3 lead after 20 minutes, before England lock Simon Shaw marked his comeback
game with a five-pointer. No 8 James Haskell made the break before popping up
the scoring pass to the big second rower, who scampered over the line without a
hand laid on him.
Former England Under-16 player Roberts scored his second a few moments from
the break and the teams swapped ends with Wasps leading 26-3 and with a bonus
point already in the bag.
Calvisano stopped the rot early in the second spell with a try to Italian test
centre Giovanni Raineri, converted by Fraser, but it was Roberts' day and he
completed his hat-trick in the 45th minute with a stunning run that started in
his own half.
Calvisano refused to accept defeat, though, and hit back in the 53rd minute
with a try to the influential Fraser. Replacement Wasps lock George Skivington
was yellow-carded in the 70th minute and the home side narrowed the margin to
22-31 with a try to replacement prop Giampiero De Carli.
Warren Gatland's side held on to deny Calvisano a bonus point, and now build
towards a crucial third-round Pool 3 match against former double European
champions Leicester at the Causeway Stadium on Sunday, December 5.
Teams:
Calvisano: Vaccari, Nitoglia, Raineri, Zanoletti, Vodo, Fraser,
Griffen, Bocca, Intoppa, Perugini, Ngauamo, Purll, Mandelli,
Elisara, Zaffiri.
Replacements: Ravazzolo for Vaccari (50),
Castrogiovanni for Bocca (49), Pratichetti for Mandelli (65),
Bernabo for Elisara (40).
Not Used: De Carli, Candiago, Mulieri.
Tries: Raineri, Fraser, De Carli.
Cons: Fraser 2.
Pens: Fraser.
Wasps: Voyce, Lewsey, Waters, Hoadley, Roberts, Brooks, Biljon,
Dowd, Greening, Nwume, Shaw, Hart, Lock, Rees, Haskell.
Replacements: Erinle for Hoadley (65), King for Brooks (67),
Dawson for Biljon (65), Leota for Greening (60),
Mackenzie for Nwume (60), Skivington for Shaw (60).
Not Used: Worsley.
Tries: Roberts 3, Lock, Shaw.
Cons: Brooks 3.
Att: 3,000
Ref: C Berdos (France).
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