Late sting seals if for Wasps

By Ben Blackmore  

Late sting seals if for Wasps

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Wasps23-11Saracens
Guinness Premiership, Twickenham, Saturday September 3,

Match Stats

A late try from Fraser Waters made sure Wasps started the new season with a victory as they defeated Saracens 23-11.

The defending champions returned to Twickenham, the scene of last year's triumph, with a new man in charge as Ian McGeechan has taken over from the departed Warren Gatland.

However, there was no change in the end result for Wasps as they managed to see off their London rivals to grab an opening day win, thanks mainly to an impressive kicking display from Mark Van Gisbergen.

The full back booted 13 points, including two successful conversion attempts, after Tom Voyce and Waters had crossed the line.

Despite Wasps being the more dominant team in the opening exchanges, it was Saracens who built up an early lead courtesy of two penalties from Glen Jackson.

A penalty from Van Gisbergen just before the half-hour mark got the champions on the scoreboard and he was on target again soon after as Wasps scored the opening try of the game.

Joe Worsley's perfectly weighted kick put Sarries on the back foot and winger Voyce sneaked his way through to the line to put his side in front for the first time.

The score could well have been even more in Wasps' favour at half-time had it not been for some last-ditch defending as Paul Sackey was somehow held up over the line.

The break allowed Steve Diamond a chance to rally his troops and the coach's words of wisdom seemed to work as Saracens scored just three minutes after the re-start.

Ben Skirving burst through Sackey's attempted tackle to score in the corner, Jackson missing the conversion attempt from the touchline. 

Sarries' lead did not last for long, however, as Van Gisbergen punished them for falling foul of referee David Rose with two penalties from long range.

With England international Matt Dawson sent into action from the bench, Wasps went on the attack and would have killed off their opponents had Sackey managed to hang onto the ball with the line begging.

But the former London Irish flier was not made to pay for his mistake and, with Kevin Yates off in the sin bin, Waters made sure of the points when he galloped in under the posts in injury time.

Wasps(10) 23.
Tries: Voyce, Waters.
Cons: Van Gisbergen 2.
Pens: Van Gisbergen 3.

Saracens (6) 11.
Tries: Chesney.
Pens: Jackson.