Wasps snatch victory with late penalty try

30 point haul
By Duncan Wood
September 8 2002

Bristol gave it absolutely everything and kept their line intact deep into injury time. However, they didn't do so legally according to referee Roy Maybank who awarded the penalty try and victory to Wasps.

Bristol got off to a good start with an early Felipe Contepomi penalty but Wasps established a territorial platform as Bristol gave away a few penalties.

Ater 6 minutes, from a penalty kicked to the corner, Trevor Leota popped up on the end of a drive from the Wasps forwards and reached out to touch down in the corner. 5-3 to Wasps.

The lead lasted only a few minutes however. Contepomi proved that he isn't just a kicking fly half. His unexpected sidestep and acceleration sliced open the Wasps defence and with only one man to beat, he put Lee Best in for the score. Conrepomi converted and Bristol were up 10-5.

Alex King narrowed the gap with a penalty before Contepomi came up with yet another interception score against Wasps. He did it in the cup two seasons ago, he did it twice in the league game at the Memorial Stadium last season. His conversion only rubbed salt into the wounds of the Wasps faithful.

Things started to go slightly wrong for Bristol shortly afterwards. Captain Ross Beattie had to leave the field after a big hit from Leota although he had had to pass a fitness test before the game. He was replaced by Matt Salter.

Then Bristol lost a lineout on their own throw. Wasps capitalised and, despite Mark Denney being in the sin bin, conjured up a two on one with only Phil Christophers to beat. Stuart Abbott provided the sidestep and score. King;s conversion narrowed the gap to 15-17 and he put Wasps in front with a penalty with the last kick of the half.

Credit to Bristol, there was a lot of fight and spirit shown and three Contepomi penalties early in the second half edged them back in front.

But Wasps weren't in any mood to let Bristol spoil their first league game at Adams Park. King reduced the gap with a penalty of his own before Rob Howley made a break and put Lawrence Dallaglio in for his team's third try.

King and Contepomi exchanegd further penalties before the Argentinian looked to have settled things with his 7th penalty 4 minutes from time which opened a 4 point lead at 35-31.

However, Bristol just couldn't keep Wasps away from their line. A penalty against Richard Birkett 5 metres from the Shoguns line gave Contepomi the chance to clear his lines which he duly did. However, the lineout was lost.

Shane Roiser then knocked on and Bristol had the scrum and another chance to clear. However, a penalty was conceded at the scrum and King kicked play deep into the Bristol 22.

Bristol repelled several attacks but were conceding penalties and, when Contepomi went round on the wrong side, referee Maybank broke Bristol hearts by awarding the penalty try. It was 5 minutes into injury time.

King's conversion was the final kick and made it 38-35. One bonus point a scant return for the effort put in.