RUGBY UNION - Wasps strike late to take losing bonus point from Harlequins trip - The Coventry Observer

RUGBY UNION - Wasps strike late to take losing bonus point from Harlequins trip

Coventry Editorial 21st Feb, 2022   0

WASPS ran in three second-half tries to secure a losing bonus point in a 29-24 defeat against reigning champions Harlequins.

Tom Willis, Sam Spink and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen all crossed for Wasps, with the latter scoring with the final play of the game at Twickenham Stoop.

The result means Wasps drop to eighth in the Gallagher Premiership table, just four points behind Gloucester who occupy the final play-off spot.

Harlequins made a fast start and scored the game’s first try after just two minutes when Oscar Beard finished in the corner despite the attention of three Wasps’ tacklers.




And Wasps reduced the deficit to two points on six minutes when the returning Jacob Umaga kicked a penalty only for the same player to miss his next attempt which would have given the visitors the lead.

The home side then ran in their second try when Huw Jones touched down underneath the sticks to leave a simple conversion for Will Edwards.


And the game was taken out of Wasps’ reach in the second half when Cadan Murley and Andre Esterhuizen scored two tries in the space of two minutes as the reigning champions secured a try bonus point.

The visitors registered their first try on 58 minutes when T. Willis threw a clever dummy before stretching for the line with Umaga converting from the touchline.

However, Quins struck again on 63 minutes when Louis Lynagh sped away from the Wasps defence before diving over the line to all but seal the points.

Wasps scored their second try on 74 minutes when Spink dotted down from Will Porter’s flat pass with Umaga kicking the resulting conversion out of his hands.

And the away side snatched a losing bonus point with the final play of the game when Toomaga-Allen forced his way over the line before Umaga converted with the last kick of the match.

Wasps are next in action away at Bristol Bears on Friday, February 25 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Ashton Gate.

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