So Close

Wasps came so close to being the only English club to fly the flag at the 2022 European finals. Unfortunately they couldn't turn pressure into points with Lyons using their home advantage to take the Challenge Cup semi-final 20-18. Sarries suffered a similar fate losing the opther semi 25-16 in Toulon.

Wasps should have had a bigger half time lead. They turned round  8-3 up courtesy of a Dan Robson try as he went over on the blindside to register the first score - it was after some 25 minutes of play with Jimmy Gopperth adding a penalty.

Let off a bit of a hook Lyons came out charged up for the second half and should have scored only for Davit Niniashvili to send out a poor pass.

However, they tookd the lead with a bit of flowing rugby which saw Bedeue go over to giver his side a two point lead.

Leicester bound Gopperh put Wasps back in front with a penalty. The lead didn't last long as replacement hooker Charcosset scored from close range.

Wasps then gifted Lyons three shots at goal but Berdeu only slotted the third to take his side to a safer 20-11 margin.

The next score was vital and it looked althopugh it had gone to Wasps as Dan Frost raced in in some style. Unfortunately the tv hsowed an earlier knock on by Francois Hougaard as the loose ball bounched up onto his right arm.

Wasps continued to press and finally gor their reward when Gopperth sniped huis way over from a maul - his kick taking the margin to just two points

Penalty? Drop Goal? Not to be, sadly,  as anxiety to score created too many knock-ons and simple errors. 

Lyon: Arnold; Tuisova, Barassi, Ngatai, Niniashvili; Berdeu, Couilloud; S Taofifenua, Marchand, Bamba, Kpoku, R Taofifenua, Cretin, Saginadze, Sobela (captain.

Reps: Charcosset, Rey, Kodela, Mayanavanua, Goujon, Doussain, Lambey, Mignot.

Wasps: Umaga; Hougaard, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; West, Oghre, Alo, Launchbury (captain), Stooke, Shields, J Willis, Barbeary.

Reps: Frost, Harris, Millar-Mills, Gaskell, T Willis, Porter, Spink, Kibirige.