KO
Let’s get this Gardens game underway! Saints playing with the wind towards the Sturtridge - Carlisle kicks off…
SAINTS 0 WASPS 0
2mins
Dickson stands up a high box kick, Tommy Bell knocks on and the pack drive through for an immediate penalty. Positive start from the Saints
SAINTS 0 WASPS 0
4mins
Wasps try and out of nothing. A good kick from the visitors can’t deter Haywood in the lineout but Dickson’s box kick is charged down and bounces kindly for Davies, who scores.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 5
6mins
Another good kick by Davies and this time the lineout doesn’t find the mark for the hosts. That allows Wasps to attack on halfway but an enterprising moves ends down the left with a loose offload. The visitors certainly looking throw it around though.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 5
10mins
Hint of danger as Varndell gets the chance to stretch his legs and Lindsay then busts a tackle. This time Wasps are too loose though and Ken scoops up a free ball to almost spark a Saints breakaway. Haywood can’t cling onto Wilson’s pass though and on halfway, we’re setting for another scrum.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 5
12mins
Another kick forward by Davies is marginally carried out by Ken and Wasps have an opportunity to get their maul going. They win a penalty too, so while North fields Carlisle’s cross-kick, play comes back for the fly half to open up a two score advantage.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 8
15mins
Wasps try - another interception. Foden’s kick is blocked and when Hughes picks up, Varndell is quickly on the scene. No one will catch him from halfway.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 13
16mins
Poor conversion from Carlisle, who strikes a post, but Wasps are well ahead now. Very similar start to the Bath game back in December.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 13
17mins
Saints attacked through the driving lineout to get themselves back into that Bath game and they’re looking to do the same here. Myler twice goes to the corner with penalties but possession is lost on the ground and Wasps hurriedly hack clear.
SAINTS 0 WASPS 13
21mins
SAINTS TRRRYYY!! A much needed score too! Burrell makes a huge carry through Carlisle and Ken times his pass excellently to North. Short can’t deal with the Welshman’s cut inside and Myler converts.
SAINTS 7 WASPS 13
23mins
A sweeping Saints counter, Ken again involved, but when it comes back inside Wasps get men around the maul and hold it up. Saints starting to play their way back into this game though and drive a penalty out of the scrum - against the head.
SAINTS 7 WASPS 13
25mins
SAINTS TRRRRRRYYYYYYY!!!! It’s right back on now and through a customary HUGE maul. Skipper Dowson is the man to get the ball down. Tough kick for Myler in this wind and it’s narrowly wide.
SAINTS 12 WASPS 13
28mins
SAINTS TRRRRYYYYYYY!!!! And what a try!!! Dickson pegs Wasps back with a smart kick. It is cleared, but right down the throat of Foden and the flying full back carves the visitors open brilliantly to release Myler. It’s his first try of the season - the Saints’ 100th! - and the 10 converts too.
SAINTS 19 WASPS 13
30mins
We said it was a bit like the Bath game at Christmas and it’s certainly proved that way! Three tries in 7mins have flipped the game on its head. Let’s hope they can kick on as they did on that afternoon. One more try and the home tie is in the bag.
SAINTS 19 WASPS 13
32mins
Everything is starting to pick up for the hosts - including the volume in the stands. Dickson’s clever kick bounces kindly for Wasps, but Wilson’s doesn’t and his excellent touch finder has the men in gold under pressure. They lose the lineout too.
SAINTS 19 WASPS 13
33mins
Saints penalty - another scrum going against the head. Myler kicks it and Saints are now the side two scores in front.
SAINTS 22 WASPS 13
35mins
Wasps are now two scores and a man down. Dickson takes a quick tap penalty and is well supported by Burrell. Hughes tackles the centre but then cynically kills the ball and it’s as clear cut a yellow card as you’re likely to see this season.
SAINTS 22 WASPS 13
36mins
What’s Bell done there?! He lets Dickson’s bobbling kick bounce dangerously with plenty of Saints attention. Foden thinks he’s scored the bonus point try, but it’s just gone forward and his opposite number gets a big let off.
SAINTS 22 WASPS 13
39mins
SAINTS TRRRRRYYYY!!! And bar a 100pt win for Leicester against Saracens that’s the home semi-final in bag. Haywood is the man to cut the line, Burrell is on the shoulder once more and it’s try number four. Rare miss from the tee by Myler but it matters little.
SAINTS 27 WASPS 13
HT
The game restarts but it’s quickly off the park to end the half. Stirring comeback from the Saints and some excellent tries doing the damage. It’s not how you start, but how you finish and if they can keep this up they’ll head into their home semi-final in fine nick.
SAINTS 27 WASPS 13
41mins
Saints make a change at the break, Mercey coming on for Ma’afu. Still five minutes left on the Hughes sin bin as Myler restarts…
41mins
Not the start the seven-man pack of Wasps would have wanted. Davies drops the restart and Saints drive a penalty out of the scrum. Dickson almost goes over with the quick tap, but Wasps were offside so Saints can scrum again 5m out.
SAINTS 27 WASPS 13
43mins
SAINTS TRYYYYYYY! Dickson does score this time, taking an armchair ride over behind another monumental shove from his forwards.
SAINTS 34 WASPS 13
46mins
The game is really starting to open up as North gets another chance to gallop forwards. He can’t quite get it wide to Ken but Saints are now brimming with confidence and playing from all areas. Burrell is going to get himself half an hour’s rest, Stephenson on in his place.
SAINTS 34 WASPS 13
50mins
He’s got a poacher’s instinct and Varndell almost steals another interception with Saints flicking offloads all over the park. Myler scrambles back to tackle well though and forces a knock on in the contact.
SAINTS 34 WASPS 13
53mins
Almost another Saints try! Wilson is held up as Ken’s kick is chased down well, before a big ovation for the returning Corbisiero. Waller departs, as does Myler for George Pisi.
SAINTS 34 WASPS 13
54mins
SAINTS TRY!!! It is a try, but not how you would have expected! The scrum is turned over, but a poor Wasps pass is gathered by Foden who bags himself a simple finish.
SAINTS 39 WASPS 13
56mins
Extras added by Wilson and another kick assist from Dickson, who spots the ball for the new fly half.
SAINTS 41 WASPS 13
60mins
SAINTS TRYYY!!! An umpteenth Saints scrum penalty goes to the corner and while it isn’t immediately driven over, men get around Dickson to carry him over for his second - Saints’ seventh. Wilson again converts.
SAINTS 48 WASPS 13
63mins
SAINTS TRYYYYY!! Make North’s a double too! Freedom of the Gardens for the winger down the left and Short can’t reel him in. Saints crack 50.
SAINTS 53 WASPS 13
65mins
Post for Wilson as he misses his first kick of the afternoon.
SAINTS 53 WASPS 13
67mins
SAINTS TRRRRYYYY!!! Changes for both sides but the scrum pendulum hasn’t swung. Another Saints penalty on their own 22 quickly sees play race into the Wasps half and Stephenson’s scything break is finished by Ken.
SAINTS 58 WASPS 13
70mins
Chalk up two more for Wilson from the tee. Dickson departs after a fine display, Fotuali’i on. Wood also replaces Dickinson.
SAINTS 60 WASPS 13
73mins
Huge hit from Mercey in midfield and when the ball is turned over, Ken offloads inside to Fotuali’i, whose clever kick bounces off a Wasps man for a Saints throw.
SAINTS 60 WASPS 13
74mins
That was a poor tackle from Chris Bell on Wilson. Fortunately, the Kiwi is able to shrug it off but the Wasps skipper sees yellow.
SAINTS 60 WASPS 13
75mins
SAINTS TRY!!!! Wilson slides a kick through and while Daly gets to it first, he knocks it back rather than dotting it down and Stephenson pounces. Conversion from Wilson.
SAINTS 67 WASPS 13
79mins
Time for an 11th? Varndell carries into touch close to his own line and the forwards rally for one large shunt.
SAINTS 67 WASPS 13
80mins
SAINTS TRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!! The forwards must have been feeling pretty left out in this second half, scoring-wise at least, so it’s just as well Dowson pops up to notch his second. Wilson converts. Game over.
SAINTS 74 WASPS 13
FT
That 0-13 deficit seems an age ago now! One of the Saints’ all-round performances of 2014 so far and the perfect way to head into a home semi-final with… Leicester!
SAINTS 74 WASPS 13
TIMELINE
4mins WASPS Try Davies 0-5
13mins WASPS Pen Carlisle 0-8
15mins WASPS Try Varndell 0-13
21mins SAINTS Try North Con Myler 7-13
26mins SAINTS Try Dowson 12-13
28mins SAINTS Try and Con Myler 19-13
34mins SAINTS Pen Myler 22-13
35mins WASPS Yellow Hughes
39mins SAINTS Try Burrell 27-13
HALF-TIME SAINTS 27 WASPS 13
43mins SAINTS Try Dickson Con Myler 34-13
54mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Wilson 41-13
61mins SAINTS Try Dickson Con Wilson 48-13
63mins SAINTS Try North 53-13
69mins SAINTS Try K Pisi Con Wilson 60-13
74mins WASPS Yellow C Bell
75mins SAINTS Try Stephenson Con Wilson 67-13
80mins SAINTS Try Dowson Con Wilson 74-13
FULL-TIME SAINTS WASPS
SAINTS: Foden; K Pisi, Wilson, Burrell, North; Myler, Dickson; A Waller, Haywood, Ma’afu, Craig, Day, Clark, Dowson (capt), Dickinson
Reps: Britton, Corbisiero, Mercey, Manoa, Wood, Fotuali’i, G Pisi, Stephenson
WASPS: T Bell; Short, C Bell (capt), Hayter, Varndell; Carlisle, Davies; McIntyre, Lindsay, Vea, Cannon, Palmer, Jackson, Thompson, Hughes
Reps: Festuccia, Reeves, Swainston, Launchbury, Johnson, Sheehan, Goode, Daly
Aviva Man of the Match:
Referee: Luke Pearce
Att: 13,459
