Wasps destroy Saracens
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Lee Blackett registered his first win as Wasps interim head coach with a stunning victory over Saracens, winning 60-10 at the Ricoh Arena.
It is Wasps’ first Premiership victory at home since November and they ended a six-game run of defeats against Saracens as they put on eight tries against the visitors.
RECAP: Wasps v Saracens
A Jimmy Gopperth penalty and Jack Willis’ try gave Wasps an early advantage, before Nizaam Carr finished off a great move when flyhalf Jacob Umaga broke free to give the hosts a 17-0 lead.
A third try shortly followed, when Malakai Fekitoa ran 60 metres upfield before wing Zach Kibirige finished in the corner.
Kibirige got his second of the night and secured Wasps’ try-scoring bonus-point just after the half-hour mark after pouncing on the loose ball to run over 50 metres to the try line.
Just before the break, Saracens finally managed to get their first points on the board when Ali Crossdale dotted down in the corner.
Saracens’ Alex Lewington was sent to the sin-bin shortly after play resumed, with Gopperth adding a second three-pointer to his total to give Wasps a 34-5 lead.
It then became the Kibirige show, as the 25-year-old helped provide Brad Shields and Jacob Umaga with further tries, before Shields’ second score took Wasps past 50 points.
Lewington replied for the visitors but it was Wasps who had the final say when replacement hooker Gabriel Oghre’s late try gave Blackett a first win to remember.
The scorers:
For Wasps:
Tries: Willis, Carr, Kibirige 2, Shields 2, Umaga, Oghre
Cons: Gopperth 7
Pens: Gopperth 2
For Saracens:
Tries: Crossdale, Lewington
Yellow card: Alex Lewington (Saracens, 42)
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Biyi Alo, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Will Porter, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Josh Ibuanokpe, 19 Andy Christie, 20 Kapeli Pifeleti, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Dom Morris, 23 Ali Crossdale
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson & Shane Lewis.
TMO: Nigel Carrick.
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