Six-try Wasps clinch an

Allianz Park semi-final

Wasps claimed a 22-39 win over by Newcastle Falcons in the final round of Aviva Premiership action at a packed, sun-drenched Kingston Park.

             

 

22 - 39

Sat 5th May 2018
4:00 pm

Kingston Park StadiumAviva Premiership

This result sends the black-and-golds to Allianz Park in two weeks’ time where two-time European champions Saracens await.
After Tom Cruse's score provided an early advantage, the visitors took control of the game with tries from Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani, Josh Bassett and Jimmy Gopperth in 13 minutes either side of half-time.
Trailing by 3-31, the hosts then came alive in the closing stages to claim tries through Josh Matavesi, Zach Kiribirige and Evan Olmstead before Willie Le Roux raced 60 metres to send a good-sized contingent of visiting fans home happy.
Sonatane Takulua opened the scoring for the Falcons with a simple penalty, after Bassett was caught offside inside the visitors’ 22. 
Wasps responded with a threatening move down the right as Gaby Lovabalavu combined with Bassett to take play deep into the 22, but when the ball was moved to the left a breakdown penalty was conceded a  few metres from the home line. 
The visitors took the lead after 18 minutes when Cruse charged down Josh Matavesi’s kick just outside the 22, gathered and raced clear for an opportunist try. Cipriani converted from near the right touchline.

Dai Young’s team came close to a second score when Kyle Eastmond dummied his way through a gap before feeding Lovobalavu. When he was stopped just short,  Jack Willis forced his way  over the line, was unable to ground the ball. From the scrum, Simpson fed Bassett, but Takulua’s tackle dislodged the ball, as the Wasps winger dived for the line.
After resisting a brief period of home pressure, Wasps went back on the attack and Willis, Ben Harris and James Haskell all went close. They finally turned pressure into points when a powerful scrum gave them quick ball and Cipriani’s long pass sent Daly cruising to the left corner to give his side a 12-3 advantage.
The visitors soon extended their lead through Cipriani’s excellent full-stretch finish and Daly’s conversion which made the halftime score 19-3.
Soon after the restart, Cipriani’s magnificent chip bounced into space in the home 22 and Bassett gathered to go over in the right corner for his eleventh try of the season. 
Moments later, Cipriani was replaced by former local favourite Jimmy Gopperth who made an immediate mark when he went over in the corner following a scintillating Le Roux break then added the conversion.

Amidst a flurry of substitutions, the home side enjoyed several minutes of possession, then finally found their way to the try-line when Kibirige gathered a stray pass outside his own 22 and offloaded to Matavesi who raced clear of the covering defence to touch down.
A second Falcons try followed almost immediately when Sam Stuart hoisted a kick towards the left corner where Kibirige was in acres of space to gather and go over unopposed. 
Craig Willis added the conversion and the replacement was on the mark again a few minutes later after Olmstead barged over from close range.
Wasps lost Thomas Young to the sin bin in the build-up to this score, and were therefore relieved when Gopperth slotted a straightforward penalty after his forwards twice found favour with the referee.
With a bonus point still in their sights, Newcastle again pressed hard, but after Daly’s tackle forced them to spill the ball, Gopperth gathered and sent  Le Roux sprinting clear from 70 metres to make the game safe at 39-22.