Champions Wasps downed by new-boys Northampton
Bruce Reihana scored 17 points for Northampton
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Saturday, 20, Sep 2008 08:04
Wasps' disastrous start to the season continued as they lost their third league game of the season to Northampton at Franklins Garden today.
Newly promoted Northampton outplayed the champions and scored three tries compared to the one Wasps' scored as they won 24-20. Only five penalties from the boot of Dave Walder kept Wasps in the game as Bruce Reihana missed four penalties for Northampton.
Wasps got off to the worst possible start as former England full-back Josh Lewsey saw his kick charged down by Reihana who then grabbed hold of the ball to sprint clear and score the try. The full-back converted his own try.
Walder kicked his first penalty to get Wasps on the scoreboard before they brilliantly worked the ball from a line-out and a succession of passes later allowed Dominic Waldouck to score the try in the corner.
Wasps looked to be taking control of the game when Walder kicked his second penalty to make the score 11-7 to his side. But another howler from the usually reliable Lewsey gifted Northampton the lead.
This time the full-back dropped a high kick from Carlos Spencer and Chris Ashton collected the ball and ran in under the posts to grab his first try for the club. Reihana converted the extras, but missed two penalties as Walder made it 14-14 at half-time with another penalty.
Reihana and Walder converted a penalty each to make the score 17-17. Walder kept Wasps in the game and when he kicked a monster penalty from his own half, he looked to have won the game for his side.
But Northampton came roaring back and a superb long flat pass from Stephen Myler found Sean Lamont on the win and he scored the winning try. Myler added the extras as Northampton held on for a deserved win.