Searle injury takes gloss off Wasps win

Dai Young admitted he could not watch the replays of Billy Searle’s serious ankle injury as Wasps defied the loss of their impressive flyhalf to seal a bonus-point victory.

The visitors scored four tries and Thomas Young grabbed the first as the flanker staked his claim to be involved in Wales’ crunch Six Nations clash with England in Cardiff a week today.

But Searle’s exit on a stretcher after he fell awkwardly in a tackle left a sour taste for the men from Coventry. Wasps director of rugby Young said: “Billy played very well, but it looks like a very serious ankle injury. I couldn’t look at it too much, to be honest.

“He has gone away to hospital. He will certainly be out for a while I’d have thought.”

Wasps dominated the first period against an awful Bristol side. Ian Madigan opened the scoring for the Bears, but Young was then driven over from a line-out and Searle converted.

Young was everywhere as he dominated the breakdown, put in a series of huge hits and linked play in expert fashion. Wasps finally turned their possession into points. Tom Cruse crashed over in the cor- ner and after Searle intercepted a pass and raced clear, No 8 Nizaam Carr was in support to finish. Wasps led 19-3 at the break.

Searle was forced off on the game’s resumption and his departure seemed to hit Wasps hard as Harry Randall, Piers O’conor and half-time substitute Charles Piutau brought Bristol to within four points at one stage. Will Rowlands had raced away for Wasps’ crucial fourth score and a Lima Sopoaga penalty eased the visitors home.

Bristol head coach Pat Lam said: “We are extremely disappointed. The first half was horrific. We turned the ball over six times in the first 19 minutes. We handed the game to Wasps and some of the guys will be embarrassed when they go through the review.”