Wasps lose to Sarries in Sevens final
WASPS were forced to concede their Premiership Sevens title to Saracens who won 33-12 in the final.
Wasps’ squad was hit hard by injury during the course of Saturday, but after grafting their way past hosts Northampton in the quarterfinal and claiming a thrilling semi-final success over Newcastle, the challenge of the Premiership title holders proved a step too far.
Academy Manager Jon Pendlebury described himself as hugely proud of his team.
“Other than getting a win and taking a trophy home it couldn’t have been much better for us,” he said. “To only have nine players for the last two games was tough, but the spirit was outstanding. That’s credit to all the staff and players.
“We’ve undergone a massive shift of approach to our academy in the last 15 months, and this weekend everyone involved was either a university contracted player or a senior academy member.
“They are all genuine Wasps, with no guests, and along with the time and effort out in by our coaches, this stands us in really good stead.”
Wasps started the final well, but once Sarries turned the ball over they released Joel Conlon to the line.
Sunni Jardine’s fifth try of the weekend – which took him past 50 points – brought the scores level.
However, Saracens took a seven-point advantage into the interval thanks to Conlon’s second score. The Allianz Park outfit soon added a third score through Tom Griffiths, then made the title secure with Rotini Segun’s fourth try.
Miteli Vulikijapani’s score added icing on the cake, before the pacy Callum Sirker had the final word for Wasps, with Jardine adding the extras.
Wasps reached a fourth consecutive final after a spinetingling finale against Falcons.
With the score tied at 24-24, Sunni Jardine’s nerveless touchline conversion edged Pendlebury’s team 26-24 ahead with two minutes remaining, after which the young fly half applied the coupde-grace by converting his own last-minute score.
Wasps earlier progressed to the last four thanks to a 17-10 quarter-final win over Saints.