LONDON WASPS 30

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 13

Heineken Cup semi-final

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Sunday, April 22, 2007

With the cheers of their 9,000-strong support at their backs, and following early questioning of each defence, Saints got off to the best possible start. Though their scrum was going backwards at a rate of knots, Daniel Browne and Mark Robinson combined to send Sean Lamont and Robbie Kydd through the Wasps defence.

Kydd was brought down inside Wasps’ 22, but the support was there to recycle quickly. Carlos Spencer went down the blindside and produced a superb pass over the top to Bruce Reihana who scored in the left corner. Reihana’s touchline conversion bisected the posts and Saints were 7-0 ahead in only the fourth minute.

Stout defence held Wasps out on both flanks in the next few minutes as the Londoners sought to hit back immediately. But instead it was Reihana who scored the next points with a 40-metre penalty. That made the score 10-0 and four minutes later it was 13-0 with Reihana’s second.

This remained the score three minutes into the second quarter. Wasps again built phases from the half-way line and worked steadily into Saints’ 22. And when the ball went right for the final time Danny Cipriani dived over. Unfortunately for him he touched down on the dead-ball line and the try was ruled out.

Wasps eventually received some reward for their efforts just before the half-hour when Mark Van Gisbergen slotted a straightforward penalty. And their incessant pressure was turned into more points by Paul Sackey. The winger did well to control the juggling ball to score in the corner – confirmed by the TMO – but Van Gisbergen did less well by shanking the conversion attempt.

The last two minutes of the half saw the first exchange of tactical kicking in which Robinson, Sackey and Reihana all did well to de-fuse the garryowen threats. Neither side could make another breakthrough – although Tom Rees came close to doing so – and the half ended with Saints leading 13-8.

Wasps flew out of the blocks after the break and it took a strong rearguard action from the Saints to hold them out. The white-clad Saintsmen also managed a threatening break from Robbie Kydd, but like the first half Wasps were controlling all the ball.

Saints also received a double blow 10 minutes into the half when Ben Lewitt’s sinbinning was followed by Van Gisbergen’s second penalty.

With the margin now two Wasps went for the kill. But until the hour Saints managed to control enough ball to both take precious time off the clock and ease some of the territorial pressure.

But a penalty was conceded on half-way that Cipriani kicked to the corner. And from the line out the Wasps pack tucked the ball up their jumpers and drove for the line. The maul collapsed over the line and after another TMO consultation James Haskell was awarded the try. But again Van Gisbergen couldn’t convert and at 13-16 Saints were still in the game.

Saints made a double substitution with David Gerard and Christian Labit entering the fray. The desired impact was had as Saints grabbed some control of the ball on Wasps’ 22. But their opponents’ defence had few cracks and fewer indiscretions and after pounding away Saints conceded a penalty from which Cipriani cleared.

This led to the killer blow. Wasps’ pack again won the line out and drove into Saints’ 22. However it fell to man of the match Sackey to replicate his GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP achievements last week by dancing through the defence to the line. This time Van Gisbergen landed the extras and Wasps had a 10-point advantage with as many minutes to play.

Wasps also had the added bonus of a penalty on half-way which was again kicked to touch to mount even more pressure. This they did, although Saints deserved commendation for trying to play their way back into the game with a series of Spencer chips that didn’t come off.

Instead it fell to Wasps replacement Josh Lewsey to add a final gloss to the score with a try in the left corner. Van Gisbergen converted and Wasps headed to Twickenham.

Teams:
London Wasps – Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Waldouck (Lewsey 48mins), Voyce; Cipriani (Walder 72mins), Reddan (McMillan 79mins); Vickery (Adams 31-35mins), Ibanez (Ward 68mins), Bracken (Adams 29-31mins; 48mins), Shaw, Palmer, Worsley (Leo 79mins), Rees, Dallaglio (capt)(Haskell 59mins).

Northampton Saints – Reihana (capt); Lamont, Clarke (Diggin 75mins), Kydd, Cohen; Spencer, Robinson (Howard 79mins); Smith (Tonga’uhia 73mins), Cortese, Tonga’uhia (Budgen 51mins), Damien Browne, Short, Tupai, Lewitt, Daniel Browne.

Scorers:
London Wasps – Tries Sackey (2), Haskell, Lewsey; Con: Van Gisbergen; Pens: Van Gisbergen (2).

Northampton Saints – Try: Reihana; Con: Reihana; Pens: Reihana (2).

Yellow card:
Lewitt (49mins)

Heineken man of the match:
Paul Sackey

TIMELINE:
4mins SAINTS Try and Con Reihana 0-7
13mins SAINTS Pen Reihana 0-10
17mins SAINTS Pen Reihana 0-13
28mins WASPS Pen Van Gisbergen 3-13
34mins WASPS Try Sackey 8-13
HALF-TIME WASPS 8 SAINTS 13
49mins SAINTS Yellow card Lewitt
50mins WASPS Pen Van Gisbergen 11-13
60mins WASPS Try Haskell 16-13
70mins WASPS Try Sackey Con Van Gisbergen 23-13
77mins WASPS Try Lewsey Con Van Gisbergen 30-13
FULL-TIME WASPS 30 SAINTS 13