Wasps stung by Gloucester

Editor

Gloucester claimed just their second win of the Premiership season on Saturday as they saw off high-flying Wasps 36-18 at Kingsholm.

Richard Hibbard’s try and James Hook’s penalty gave the Cherry and Whites a 10-5 advantage at the interval before the visitors hit back in the second period.

Jimmy Gopperth added two penalties to the earlier Thomas Young touchdown as they moved 11-10 in front.

But two Gloucester scores in three minutes changed the course of the game. Centres Mark Atkinson and Matt Scott both crossed the whitewash to give them a lead they would never relinquish.

Young’s second effort briefly reduced the arrears but Charlie Sharples and Henry Purdy breakaway tries secured the bonus-point win.

David Humphreys’ men have not enjoyed playing at Kingsholm this season, winning none of their home league matches going into the encounter with the Midlanders.

However, they started this contest on the front foot, pressurising the visitors through their stout defence and being rewarded with a penalty opportunity which was converted by Hook.

Wasps then began to control the tactical exchanges. In Danny Cipriani and Jimmy Gopperth, the Coventry-based outfit have two outstanding decision-makers and they forced the Cherry and Whites back into their own 22.

Dai Young’s side won a lineout five metres out and drove towards the whitewash. Gloucester were powerless to stop the surge and Young eventually emerged under a pile of bodies to score.

The away team were not the only ones to enjoy success at the maul with the hosts also finding the direct route to their liking. This time, it was Wasps who failed to prevent the opposition from gaining momentum and Hibbard duly went over.

That gave the Kingsholm outfit a 10-5 lead at the break but they were soon behind in the second period when ill-discipline at the breakdown allowed Gopperth to kick successive penalties.

Young’s men appeared to be getting the upper hand but a Cipriani error soon saw them back in arrears as Atkinson pounced on a loose ball and touched down.

Minutes later, the hosts effectively secured the win when Scott crossed the whitewash from close-range.

Although Young brought the visitors to within six points, late scores by Sharples and Purdy gave Gloucester the victory their performance merited.

The scorers:

For Gloucester:
Tries: Hibbard, Atkinson, Scott, Sharples, Purdy
Cons: Hook 4
Pen: Hook

For Wasps:
Tries: Young 2
Con: Gopperth
Pens: Gopperth 2

Gloucester: 15 James Hook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jacob Rowan, 6 Lewis Ludlow, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Tom Savage, 3 John Afoa, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paddy McAllister
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Mat Protheroe, 23 Ollie Thorley

Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Kyle Eastmond, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Matt Mullan (c)
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Frank Halai, 23 Alapati Leiua

Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant Referees: Roy Maybank, Simon McConnell
TMO: David Rose