Wasps Crush Lacklustre Bris

In poor conditions Bristol attempted to attack from the off but Wasps were easily able to contain the initial thrusts and to counterattack.  They went through several phases with scrum-half Reddan, who was a constant threat, making Lee Robinson look cumbersome when he broke through.  Wasps set up an early chance when van Gisbergen set Lewsey free on the wing, only for play to be called back for a forward pass.  It seemed a chance for Bristol to finally get hold of the ball after the hectic opening moments.  Wasps were penalised at the scrum and Shaun Perry took a quick, speculative, kick downfield.  Van Gisbergen was back in position and returned the kick with interest.  Bristol managed to regain the ball and Wasps were penalised for offside.  Jason Strange sent his kick for a conservative touch.  Bristol took the lineout but the ball was again kicked away to allow van Gisbergen to claim the mark and return the ball back up field.  Strange attempted to clear the danger but his kick was charged down to set the nerves jangling and forced Perry to scramble back to cover the ball and, eventually, to kick the ball back towards halfway.  Bristol, having cleared the immediate danger, were offside and the penalty was Wasps.

The lineout throw was wayward and Bristol had the scrum put-in.  Bristol again kicked away possession that Wasps were able to return.  Yet another kick from Bristol and a similar riposte from Wasps.  This time Robinson failed to gather cleanly and the inconclusive passage of play was brought to a welcome close.  The inevitable scrum penalty went to Wasps and King went for a long touchfinder, but misjudged, to send the ball dead.  Wasps took control of the ball at the restart, forcing Bristol back onto the defensive.  The defence held out well and now Wasps felt impelled to kick the ball away for Josh Taumalolo to hack the ball down to the Wasps 22.  Taumalolo and David Lemi followed up well and the defender was forced into a kick which made little distance.  Bristol strove to make an impression from the lineout but had to resort to the expedient of a crossfield kick which Robinson knocked on as he and vanGisbergen challenged for the ball.  A penalty went Wasps way at the scrum and King made a tremendous amount of distance with his kick.  The catch-and-drive went in as the referee played advantage for a Bristol infringement at the lineout.  Play was called back and King duly kick the points to make it 3 – 0.

Strange’s restart failed to make 10 metres and the scrum took place on the centre spot.  Perry managed to put King under pressure as he took the ball and his kick went out on the full.  The lineout was ssecure but handling in midfield was much less so and the knock on handed the advantage back to Wasps.  They went through a few phases of play and the Bristol defence was up much too quickly and gave away an offside penalty.  This was quickly tapped by Reddan.  His speed of thought was not matched by his colleagues, however, and King knocked on in surprise.  Bristol gave away another penalty at the scrum and King went for the posts from just inside the Bristol half.  The wind was with him and he had the distance but was well wide of his target.  Bristol secured possession from the restart but Perry’s kick was too strong and it went straight into touch.  Wasps now knocked on to give Bristol the scrum.  The referee lectured both front-rows and, having taken on this wisdom, a free kick to Bristol instantly followed.  Bristol attacked and Strange put in a nice break only to be penalised fro holding on when he was tackled.  King went for another long range effort and was again wide with just over 10 minutes of the half left to play.

The hosts attempted to keep hold of the ball from the restart and Bristol were penalised.  Unsurprisingly King was told to go for touch.  They duly secured the ball at the lineout and worked the ball along the backline.  The Bristol defence was up quickly as it attempt to snuff out the danger.  There was no way through for the attacking team and eventually the error came to give Bristol a breather.  The front-rows still seemed to be struggling and it looked as if Bristol were in trouble.  The referee felt otherwise and gave a penalty to Bristol.  Perry took a quick tap and the ball was launched downfield.  Lewsey managed a fantastic take with his body parallel to the ground and it enabled Wasps to get going forward again.  Fortunately for Bristol the play broke down and they had the respite of a scrum and   Perry again cleared with a kick.  Wasps, though, drove back from the lineout and a neat kick behind the Bristol defence was smartly gathered by the impressive Reddan, who sprinted in to score just before half time.  The conversion was slotted over by King (making his earlier problems look rather mystifying) and it was 15 – 0 at the close of the half.

The second half started with Bristol kicking the ball into the dead ball area and Wasps dotting it down.  The referee, I think in error, awarded a 22 drop out.  Geraint Lewis then knocked on as he attempted to catch and then Wasps won a penalty at the resulting scrum.  Not a promising beginning for Bristol!  Bristol finally managed to get on the attack when what appeared to be a nasty injury caused a breakdown in play.  However, as they tried to get a move underway, poor handling led to another knock on, giving Wasps the scrum.  The scrum proved to be a bit of a mess and it looked as if the Bristol pack had at last managed to get on top of their opponents.  Sadly this was to prove a false dawn.  The ball went out to Robinson on the wing and he had the strength to break through two tackles before finally being halted.  The Bristol forwards were then penalised at the breakdown and it was a penalty to Wasps.  The kick went to touch and play was back on the Bristol 22 and that was about it for attacking chances from Bristol.

Wasps worked the catch-and-drive but clumsily knocked on to hand the scrum to Bristol.  The scrum was again messy but a foolish penalty was gift-wrapped and express delivered to Wasps when a really obvious Bristol hand helped the ball back in the scrum.  Stupid play: in full view of referee, touch judge and spectators.  The penalty was kicked with aplomb by van Gisbergen to bring the score to 18 – 0 with half an hour to go.  Wasps kept the pressure on Bristol but one more handling error furnished Bristol with the scrum opportunity.  Strange, under pressure kicked the ball away.  It looked as if the Wasps player then knocked on but the officials certainly did not agree.  Wasps were enabled to get back onto the attack and only a great tackle by Joe El Abd brought the dangerous move to a halt.  Still it was Wasps probing the Bristol defences and, for an instant, it looked as if Voyce was clear before a marvellous tackle from Neil Brew stopped what looked a certain try.  Inevitably the constant pressure told and Bristol were forced into conceding a penalty right in front of the posts for Wasps to extend their lead to 21 – 0. 

Scott Linklater, on as a replacement for his Bristol debut, in virtually his first contribution conceded a penalty for a dangerous tackle.  Wasps, with 20 minutes to go and a rare try bonus looking on the cards, went for touch.  Oddly they then delayed their throw for so long that it became a kick for Bristol.  Bristol had the chance to relieve some of the pressure but it was Wasps who seized control of the ball as replacement Andrew Blowers gave away his first penalty for Bristol.  Wasps again went for touch.  Bristol continued to throw everything into defence and Wasps were forced to kick down the touchline and Bristol had the prospect of snuffing out the danger.  Wasps nonetheless had the ball and, when Lemi missed his brave interception attempt, Replacement Doherty had the strength and support to go through a misaligned defence to touch down.  The conversion was well struck by van Gisbergen and the score was 28 – 0.  Wasps went back on the attack, keen to get the fourth try.  Bristol were awarded a penalty that failed to make touch.  Fortunately a fumble from the defender got the ball over the line.  The lineout went Bristol’s way and they were able to take play, for almost the first time in the half, into opposition territory.  When the move swiftly broke down play was taken back for a Bristol penalty.  This time touch was made without the aid of an opponent but the lineout was lost.  Wasps kicked the ball back down field and, in comedic fashion, the Bristol defender ran into the largest player he could find who turned out to be Roy Winters.  Thus was this last opportunity for Bristol blown.  Bristol did get their hands back on the ball but struggled to make any impact and the passage of play, such as it was, petered out inconclusively in yet another knock on.  Scrappy play followed and a penalty was awarded to Wasps.  They went for touch and appeared to have broken free from the lineout, but the referee had already signalled for a clear forward pass.  Perry was then caught in possession but Wasps were unable to capitalise and knocked on when they attempted to go through midfield.  Bristol chipped down the touchline over the head of Lewsey, with Robinson following up.  However he was easily dispossessed of the ball as he tried to take on the Wasps defenders.  Bristol escaped lightly when Wasps again knocked on.  There was just a minute or so left when a defensive kick was charged down by Wasps.  Robinson failed to deal sensibly with the ball as it went behind the Bristol line and it gave Wasps a last chance for the bonus point try.  They hammered at the line as the clock showed zero, but they were unable to breach the last line of defence and the game ended with the last of many knock ons.