DAN ROBSON struck a late 45-metre drop goal to help Wasps on their way to a 27-21 victory away at Gloucester and keep their play-off hopes alive.
Robson’s magical kick proved decisive after Jacob Umaga, Gabriel Oghre and Charlie Atkinson had all crossed for second-half tries with Jimmy Gopperth adding nine points from the kicking tee at Kingsholm.
The result means Wasps remain ninth in the Gallagher Premiership table, 10 points outside of the play-off spot with a game in hand.
Gloucester kicked themselves into an early lead on 14 minutes through Adam Hastings’ routine penalty before both hookers were sent to the sin bin for an infringement at the scrum.
And Hastings duly kicked the resulting penalty to send Gloucester into the break with a six-point lead and Wasps yet to trouble the scoreboard.
However, the game turned in Wasps’ favour on 44 minutes when Umaga charged down and claimed Santiago Carreras’ attempted chip kick before racing 80-metres to score unopposed with Gopperth adding the conversion.
And Wasps scored their second try on 51 minutes when Oghre stayed in a driving maul all the way over the line with Gopperth converting from close to the right touchline.
However, Gloucester responded virtually from the restart when Kyle Moyle touched down on 53 minutes after he collected his own kick before evading Umaga and scrambling over the line.
And a third Hastings penalty brought Gloucester level on 58 minutes to set up a crucial final quarter.
The home side lost Louis Rees-Zammit to the sin bin on 64 minutes after he deliberately knocked-on as Wasps created an opening down the right wing.
And the visitors made the most of their advantage when Atkinson burst through a gap to score on 65 minutes from Robson’s pass with Gopperth slotting the conversion between the posts.
Despite being a man short, Gloucester were awarded a penalty try on 71 minutes after Wasps collapsed a rolling maul with Dan Frost sent to the sin bin.
With the scores level at 21-apiece, Robson kicked the match-winning points for Wasps on 72 minutes with a stunning 45-metre, three-point, drop goal.
And Jack Willis produced a stunning turnover at the breakdown to win a penalty and allow Gopperth to add a further three points in the final minute with a late steal at the lineout close to the Wasps line sealing a narrow victory.
Wasps are next in Premiership action at home to Worcester Warriors on Saturday, April 23 with kick-off at 3pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
