Simpson thumps his old mates at Wasps
JOE Simpson marked his home league debut by scoring two tries to condemn his former club to defeat.
Scrum-half, Simpson, made over 250 appearances in a 13-year spell at Wasps but his double ensured they continued their poor start to the season.
Simpson said: “It was an extremely strange feeling as I tried to prepare for a game against a club that I love and have given so much to.
“It was a bitter sweet experience as it’s never much fun to see Wasps lose.”
But lose they did as vital mistakes at crucial times cost them dearly. To complete a bad day for New Zealanders, major errors from Liam Sopoaga (lost possession) and Malakai Fekitoa (yellow card), turned the game Gloucester’s way.
Last week’s home defeat at the hands of the newly promoted London Irish was put in perspective when Irish were hammered 41-7 by Sale and Wasps’ boss, Dai Young, knows that their season needs to be kick-started.
Young said: “Great numbers are turning up to watch us and they deserve performances and victories so next week at home to Bath would be a good place to start.”
Without their talisman lock Joe Launchbury and star flanker Thomas Young Wasps’ pack struggled against the power of Gloucester although combative performances from back rowers, Sione Vailanu and Nizaam Carr kept the visitors in the contest.
Wasps conceded five penalties in the opening ten minutes and, from the last of them, Billy Twelvetrees put the home side in front with a simple kick.
That was the only score of a wholly forgettable first quarter as both sides struggled to come to terms with the rain-sodden conditions.
Gloucester continued to have the lion’s share of possession and it was no surprise when they picked up the first try. Their pack secured a platform in the visitors’ 22 and Jason Woodward broke with Tom Marshall outside him and two defenders ahead. The full-back skilfully drew in Josh Bassett to provide Marshall with an easy run-in.
Gloucester had their second try when Wasps’ flyhalf Sopoaga knocked on the slippery ball for Simpson to pounce, twice fly-hacking the ball ahead before sliding over.
Twelvetrees’ touchline conversion hit a post before Sopoaga put his side on the scoreboard with a penalty but Wasps still trailed 13-3 at the interval.
After the restart, a second penalty from Sopoaga
brought Wasps back into contention and they were camped on the hosts’ line when Fekitoa was yellow carded for a punch.
Despite this, Wasps picked up the next score with another Sopoaga penalty before the home side put daylight between the teams when Ruan Ackermann made ground to send Simpson away on a 30m run to the line.
Fekitoa returned from the sin-bin but it made no difference as Gloucester picked up their bonus point when a strong run from Mark Atkinson created a second try for Marshall.