Wllis try caps fine win for makeshift Wasps
OWEN Farrell’s red card – and the inevitable consequences – should not take the gloss off an inspired victory by Lee Blackett’s mix-andmatch side over Saracens’ big guns.
Blackett was rightly delighted with his injuryhit side as they boosted their play-off hopes by making it two big away scalps in a week following their win at Bath.
“Pretty proud,” was Blackett’s verdict. “We’d made some enforced changes and it was a great test as to where the squad is now – and a great opportunity for some young players.
“The way we fought back into it was a massive credit to the players and leaders out on the field. If one word sums up today, it’s character.”
His side showed plenty of that as skipper Jimmy Gopperth orchestrated victory with a perfect eight from eight place-kicking performance against the uncharacteristic errorstrewn Sarries.
It looked ominous when Saracens struck after only three minutes. Heavyweights Richard Barrington and Billy Vunipola punched the holes to draw the Wasps defence in before Sarries moved the ball along the line for Elliot Daly to stroll in against his former club.
But Wasps showed their resolve to cash in on a determined first-half performance with four penalties from Gopperth to lead 12-7 at half-time.
He landed his first in the 13th minute before Farrell turned down a shot at goal only to see Sarries’ forward drive take the ball to ground, conceding a scrum.
Needless penalties cost Saracens and, after having one of their own reversed when Billy Vunipola lightly – but needlessly – slapped the head of an opponent at the breakdown, Gopperth found touch to again put Wasps on the front foot.
Saracens strayed offside and the fly-half cut the deficit to one point before his side twice went close to crossing the home line.
Lock Tim Cardall
charged through the Saracens defence and found Gopperth but Ben Vellacott just failed to snatch his captain’s pass off his toes as he went for the line.
Then the impressive handling of prop Ben Harris and flanker Tom Willis released Velacott who was dragged down just short. The resulting forward drive crossed the line but a massed defensive effort prevented them from grounding.
More Wasps pressure then led to Billy Vunipola getting caught offside to gift Gopperth his third penalty.
Into the first-half red zone, Vellacott’s tap-and-go penalty put Saracens at sixes and sevens and when Maro Itoje was penalised for a high tackle Gopperth made it 12-7.
Sarries switched back on at the start of the second half with Farrell landing a penalty before Daly sent Maitland in for their second try to regain the lead.
A lineout over-throw by Jamie George put Wasps back on the offensive and Gopperth’s fifth penalty levelled the scores. Four minutes later he booted Wasps ahead with the penalty which followed Farrell’s dismissal for a high tackle on Charlie Atkinson.
Alex Goode, taking over Sarries’ kicking duties, levelled the scores but Wasps were not to be denied as Tom Willis broke off the back of a drive to grab their only – but winning – try with Gopperth converting before another Sarries’ offside infringement handed him his seventh penalty.