Wasps win at Leeds without Dallaglio!

A win without LBND
By Loose Head
December 3 2002

Wasps began December by forcing a result to go their way. It wasn't particularly pretty, but it was disciplined and committed. Leeds may still sound like the name of a team that shouldn't be where they are but the plain facts are we got four points away from home against the second in the league.

Another away game at Leeds, another crucial season definer. Last season we were bobbling around the bottom of the table. The win away at Headingley saw a much needed revival and climb up the table. This year Wasps are in a far stronger position but the game was no less significant. Leeds to maintain a title challenge and Wasps not to lose touch with the chasing group.

Wasps attacked positively right from the start. The centres, particularly Fraser Waters, looked very sharp. After about 6 minutes Fraser was over the Leeds line but could not ground the ball. Wasps had a scrum on 5 yards, and mullered the Leeds pack. Leeds front row popped up, Wasps had a penalty which Alex King kicked and scored. Slight concern that given the demonstrable dominance of the pack that they didn't opt for a scrum or lineout maybe showed lack of ambition, but at least the first visit into the oppo 22 ended in points.

One of the sweetest tries came at the end of the first quarter. Wasps had a scrum on half way, Scrivs at number 8 did an American football flick of the ball between his legs to Howley, pop to Alex who glided past Brahm van Straaten. Abbot was on his shoulder and Alex dummied a pass to him which was bought lovingly by the Leeds fullback and Alex sprinted in under the posts to score. The easy conversion made it Leeds 0 Wasps 10.

Leeds gained a penalty and after that piled on the pressure. They hope to either score or force any infringement to give the ever reliable BvS a shot at goal. Even though Leeds got over the line Dowd and Logan jointly tackled and held the guy up.

The pressure continued but the aggressive defence was holding and was disciplined. No penalty conceded and the ball was turned over. An optimistic kick at goal by Kenny Logan, 1 yard inside the Wasps half, missed but inadvertently set up the next Wasps try. The Leeds 22 restart went out on the full and Wasps had a scrum. Three phases down the blind side, Josh Lewsey gets the ball at pace and over in the corner to score. This was on 40 minutes. Unfortunately Leeds responded with a fairly immediate penalty, which gave the half time score at Leeds 9 Wasps 15.

Anticipating a Leeds onslaught, Wasps stayed on the front foot right from the start of the second half. With BvS on the pitch a penalty anywhere is dangerous and when on 48 minutes the difference was reduced to 3 points the less confident saw Leeds rather dull but extremely effective tactic working again.

A high tackle on Abbot gave Wasps a penalty which Alex turned into another 3 points. The most blatant crossing / blocking that you are ever likely to see was completely ignored by the ref who did notice a Trevor tackle. I can't say whether the tackle was good or bad, naturally all the Leeds supporters were baying for blood, but as the tackled player was a back and got up pretty quickly it can't have been anything. Possibly another "success" of Stuart Barne's anti-Trevor campaign. The net result was a penalty to Leeds in an easy position to reduce the Wasps lead to 3 points with 20 minutes of playing time left.

For the impartial observer it may have looked distinctly scrappy, Leeds were unable to construct any serious move before knocking on, dropping the ball or just getting turned over. Similarly with Wasps. Alex King forced play deep into the Leeds half, if there was going to be a lot of messing around it may as well be somewhere safe! Leeds were unable to force Wasps to infringe and could not get the points they needed and Wasps hung on by their proverbial skin of their teeth to win. Leeds 15 Wasps 18.

Special mention to the much criticised Martyn Wood, on for Howley in the second half. A completely different played to last year's model. Quick - dare I say "instinctive?" - off rucks and mauls, stops the opposition number 8 peel off a scrum in its tracks. Also the back row, supposedly, only one of the three first choice players in Paul Volley. But Scrivs and Lock both had marvellous games. Scrivs definitely looks at home in the number 8 shirt. With LBND back next week and Worzel in a few week's time, this sort of back row problem is one that we couldn't have dreamed of last year.

Next week we swap Tetley's for claret and we can all get into training for that one, happy that the boys rediscovered a high level performance - even without the talismanic Dallaglio.

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Loose Head