Wasps 20-20 Leinster
It was a terrible start for Wasps as Ashley Johnson got a yellow card for a tackle in the air right from the kick-off, probably setting the record for the quickest send off in a European match. Leinster took this in their stride, gaining two penalties within the first two minutes, allowing them to push for an early score which came through a McFadden try after 3 minutes. The conversion from Madigan made it 0-7.
It was a terrible start for Wasps as Ashley Johnson got a yellow card for a tackle in the air right from the kick-off, probably setting the record for the quickest send off in a European match. Leinster took this in their stride, gaining two penalties within the first two minutes, allowing them to push for an early score which came through a McFadden try after 3 minutes. The conversion from Madigan made it 0-7.
Wasps gained the ball
from the re-start, and a penalty against Leinster for offside allowed
Goode to get them on the scoreboard, making the score 3-7 after 7
minutes. But Leinster remained the dominant team and, despite Madigan
missing two penalty attempts at goal, they had most of the
possession. For the next 10+ minutes, Leinster continued to pound
away at the Wasps try line after a superb break from Rob Kearney.
However, Wasps put in some sensational defence led by captain James
Haskell, and they came away from the passage of play lightly, only
conceding a penalty that Madigan slotted over to make the score 3-10
after 21 minutes.
Things continued to get
worse for Wasps, their play being fraught with errors, including a
kick going out on the full. A second hammer blow came after 28
minutes, when Cittadini's attempts to slow down the ball at the
breakdown got him 10 minutes in the bin and gifted another penalty to
Leinster. Gopperth slotted the penalty, giving them a lead of 3-13
on 29 minutes. However, Wasps managed to nullify the penalty after
winning one of their own, with Goode making the score 6-13 after 31
minutes.
In spite of the Wasps
penalty, Leinster were given the chance to attack again after a
knock-on from Simpson, and after 38 minutes Leinster crashed over the
line again, and the Madigan conversion left the score at 6-20.
Straight after this, Wasps decided to try and attack the Leinster line, which resulted in a penalty for them and a yellow card for
Douglas after a late, no arms tackle. Goode did not make good use of
this opportunity, as he missed the penalty and kept the score at
6-20 at half time.
Wasps came out all guns
blazing in the second half, and a penalty after 42 minutes resulted in Goode
kicking for touch. However, this advantage did not work out and
Leinster gained the ball and mounted an attack. They looked poised to
score a try, but Leinster were penalised for crossing, relieving the
pressure on Wasps. For the next 5 minutes, Wasps pushed hard against
the Leinster defence and Varndell looked to have scored on 48
minutes. The referee ruled, however, that there had been crossing this time from Wasps and
the try was disallowed.
The penalties continued
to come for Wasps, and they pushed for the line off of the back of
Leinster's disciplinary issues. Leinster's defence was nothing short
of remarkable for a 10 minute period, but Wasps finally broke through
and scored on 61 minutes, with the conversion making the score 13-20.
It was back on for Wasps at this point, as they were only one
converted try away from leveling the scores. They did just that when
Hughes stretched over a mass of bodies to touch down, and the Goode
conversion (on a second attempt after Leinster charged early) finally
put Wasps in contention for a win.
It was not to be for
Wasps however, as both Gopperth and Goose missed drop-goals, leaving
the final score at 20-20. Leinster have now officially qualified for
the next stage in European rugby, but Wasps' fate still hangs in the
balance.
Teams
London Wasps: Miller (15), Wade (14), Daly (13), Jacobs (12), Varndell (11), Goode (10), Simpson (9); Mullan (1), Shervington (2), Cittadini (3), Davies (4), Gaskell (5), Johnson (6), Haskell - capt (7), Hughes (8). Replacements: Festuccia (16), McIntyre (17), Cooper-Wooley (18), Myall (19), Thompson (20), Jackson (21), Lozowski (22), Masi (23).
Leinster: Kearney (15), McFadden (14), Fitzgerald (13), Madigan (12), Kearney (11), Gopperth (10), Reddan (9); Bent (1), Cronin (2), Moore (3), Toner (4), Douglas (5), Ryan (6), Murphy (7), Heaslip - capt (8). Replacements: Strauss (16), Hagan (17), Furlong (18), McCarthy (19), Conan (20), Boss (21), D'Arcy (22), Fanning (23).
What a rucking good game!
Jess.
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