RUGBY UNION - Wasps edged out by Gloucester in nine-try thriller - The Coventry Observer

RUGBY UNION - Wasps edged out by Gloucester in nine-try thriller

Coventry Editorial 30th Nov, 2021   0

WASPS suffered an agonising 33-35 defeat to Gloucester as their late comeback effort fell just short despite two tries from Jacob Umaga at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

 

Umaga also kicked eight points from the kicking tee to add to tries from Thomas Young, Gabriel Oghre and the returning Alfie Barbeary.

 




Gloucester’s Billy Twelvetrees touched down twice for the visitors whilst Jonny May and Jack Clement also crossed for tries with Adam Hastings kicking a further 15 points.

 


The result means Wasps are now eighth in the Gallagher Premiership table having suffered a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

 

Wasps made a slow start and were made to pay when England wing May picked up the ball from the back of a ruck and stepped inside of his man before diving over on 11 minutes.

 

Hastings was successful with the conversion and added a further two penalties before the 20-minute mark to extend Gloucester’s lead to 13 points.

 

Blackett’s side eventually responded when Young drove over from a lineout on 22 minutes with Umaga unable to add the extras from close to the touchline.

 

But Wasps fell further behind five minutes later when Billy Twelvetrees broke through the defence before dotting down underneath the sticks with Hastings successfully converting.

 

And the Gloucester kicker added another three points to his tally shortly before half-time only for Wasps to score a crucial try in the final minute of the half.

 

The home side drove to the line from a lineout once again as Oghre dove over in the corner with Umaga’s superb conversion leaving Wasps 12-23 behind at the break.

 

However, Gloucester struck again nine minutes into the second period when Twelvetrees powered over for his second try of the night with Hastings converting.

 

Wasps responded on 55 minutes when the returning Barbeary scored from close range after some sustained pressure with Umaga successful with the conversion.

 

Gloucester scored a bonus point try 10 minutes later when Clement emerged with the ball from a rolling maul at the lineout to leave Wasps 16 points behind heading into the final quarter of an hour.

 

Wasps were given a glimmer of hope in the final 10 minutes when May was sent to the sin bin and made the most of their man advantage almost immediately when Umaga converted his own try on 73 minutes when he shrugged off two tackles before touching down.

 

And Umaga scored a sensational solo try four minutes later when he chased his own kick and superbly managed to touch the ball down in-goal before it went dead to set-up a grandstand finish.

 

However, despite piling on the pressure in the final few minutes – Wasps were unable to strike again and were forced to settled for two bonus points after scoring five tries and losing by less than seven points.

 

Wasps are next in action away at Worcester Warriors on Saturday, December 4 with kick-off at 3pm at Sixways Stadium.

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