Sunday, September 20, 2009

Cipriani guides Wasps to victory

Wasps (7) 23
Tries: Betsen, Varndell Conversions: Cipriani (2) Penalty: Cipriani Drop-goals: Cipriani (2)
Worcester (0) 3
Penalties: Walker

Danny Cipriani
Danny Cipriani kicked 13 points for Wasps

Wasps maintained their winning start to the season with a comfortable victory against Worcester to send them top of the Premiership on points difference.

A converted try from flanker Serge Betsen proved to be the only score of the first half as the hosts led 7-0.

Worcester fly-half Willie Walker could only muster one penalty from three attempts but Danny Cipriani kicked 13 points including two drop-goals.

Wing Tom Varndell grabbed his fifth try of the season late on to seal victory.

606: DEBATE
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Centre Dominic Waldouck, a late call-up after a groin injury forced Steve Kefu withdrawal, helped inspire both tries for Wasps in a stodgy game of few openings.

The hosts' first try came when Waldouck raced on to a pass from Cipriani to carve his way through a giant gap in the Worcester defence.

Warriors full-back Chris Latham caught Waldouck with a tap tackle but he popped the ball up for the marauding Betsen, who scored next to the posts and presented Cipriani with a simple conversion.

Cipriani later sent over a penalty and two drop-goals either side of a penalty from Walker before Varndell's try in the last minute.

Again Waldouck created it, launching a counter-attack and then angling his kick infield.

Varndell gathered and had a clear run for the line to score his 50th Premiership try, which Cipriani converted.

Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks:
"Dom was probably one of the key performers for Wasps last year, for the England Saxons in the summer and he showed his quality today, in a position he doesn't usually play and on his first hit-out of the season.

"Both defensively and with the ball he was a threat. If you look at the way people want to use a 12 it is more than just a crash man.

"In terms of carrying there are not many stronger than Dom around. If you look at kicking, the last try was a skilful piece of work and in terms of passing he can do that both short and wide.

"He has got the skill-set and I would love to see Dominic Waldouck playing for England."

Worcester boss Mike Ruddock:
"We are a difficult team to beat but we weren't accurate in our attacking game.

"We recognised we weren't playing as well as we should have done to get a victory but we battled hard to get a bonus point so that breakaway try at the end was a bit of a killer for us.

"But there is no doubt Wasps were the better team."

Wasps: Mitchell, Sackey, Jacobs, Waldouck, Varndell, Cipriani, Simpson, Payne, Webber, Broster, Skivington, Birkett, Worsley, Betsen, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Beech for Payne (54), Lindsay for Webber (78), Baker for Broster (54), Leo for Worsley (68), Hart for Ward-Smith (57).

Not Used: Fury, Walder, Odejobi.

Worcester: Latham, Garvey, Grove, Tuitupou, Benjamin, Walker, Powell, Mullan, Fortey, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Wood, Sanderson, Horstmann.
Replacements: Gear for Tuitupou (69), Arr for Powell (75), C. Black for Mullan (65), Lutui for Fortey (51), Gilding for Taumoepeau (68), Kitchener for Rawlinson (65), Talei for Horstmann (55).

Not Used: Crook.

Att: 7,654

Ref: John Paul Doyle (RFU).

ะพ 6:50 AM

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