Wasps fly up to second with nine-try demolition
WASPS scored nine tries against a weakened Bristol outfit to move up to second in the table.
It was Wasps’ ninth win in ten games – and sixth in seven since lockdown – and they had a bonus point wrapped up inside 18 minutes with tries from Jack Willis, Josh Bassett, Tom Cruse and Will Rowlands.
Zach Kibirige also crossed in the first half before Dan Robson, Tom Willis and Gabriel Oghre went over in the second half, supplemented by a penalty try.
Bears, who drop to fifth in the table, scored five tries through Max Malins (two), Piers O’Connor, Peter McCabe and a penalty try, after Wasps lock James Gaskell pulled down a maul and was sent to the sin-bin.
The four contenders to join Exeter in the playoffs – Wasps, Bath, Sale and Bristol – are now separated by just two points.
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett said: “We’re in a position that, if we win the next two games, that’s enough. Harlequins and the next game (against Exeter) are our focus.
“We’ve looked at our starts as probably being one of the weaknesses in our game since we returned. It was the first time we’ve actually gone ahead. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Blackett made seven changes, leaving out 19year-old Alfie Barbeary after his hat-trick in the 54-7 win over Leicester.
Bristol, with one eye on Friday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Dragons, their fourth match in 15 days, made 13 changes from the 47-10 victory over Northampton, including nine academy graduates.
Pat Lam’s side must now rely on their final two games – away at Leicester and at home to London Irish – to try to secure a top-four place.
England lock Joe Launchbury, who went off as a precaution with a calf muscle niggle, said: “We felt we were in a pretty good spot before lockdown – we had three wins in a row – and lockdown couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“We were itching to get going again, but we’ve hit the ground running. I have no idea what day of the week it is, but it’s been exciting. We are itching to get away now and reset before two massive games.”
Bristol DoR Pat Lam said: “We have to take it into the context of Covid. We can either not play, or we can do this. I would rather do this than have no rugby at all. We wouldn’t change it.
“We pushed with Europe to change the Challenge Cup quarterfinal date, but they wouldn’t budge. We asked for the Saturday or the Sunday, but it was a no.”