RUGBY UNION - Wasps run in seven tries to dispatch Sale in high scoring cup thriller - The Coventry Observer

RUGBY UNION - Wasps run in seven tries to dispatch Sale in high scoring cup thriller

Coventry Editorial 21st Mar, 2022   0

WASPS cruised to a seven-try victory against Sale Sharks in the Premiership Rugby Cup as a much-changed side won 41-26 after a clinical second-half display.

Zach Kibirige, Will Porter, Nizaam Carr, Dan Frost, Francois Hougaard, Theo Vukasinovic and Paolo Odogwu all crossed for tries at the AJ Bell Stadium as both teams came with try bonus points.

The result ends a run of three straight defeats for Wasps and marked their first success in this season’s cup competition.

The returning Kibirige started the scoring after just two minutes when he kicked through a loose ball before gathering and dotting down underneath the posts converted by Charlie Atkinson.




Sale responded with their first try on 20 minutes when former Wasps man Tommy Taylor went over following a powerful driving maul with Kieran Wilkinson’s conversion bringing the teams level.

Wasps scrum-half Will Porter then crossed for a mesmerising solo try on 22 minutes when he took a quick tap penalty before weaving his way to the line from just inside the Sale half with Rob Miller converting.


However, Porter saw a clearing kick charged down on 47 minutes with Curtis Langdon the beneficiary as he stretched over the line to bring the home side back into the contest.

Sale then had Rouban Birch sent to the sin bin for halting Wasps progress from an offside position following a quick tap penalty on 57 minutes and Wasps certainly made their advantage count.

Just a minute later, Nizaam Carr crashed over underneath the posts after he broke several tackles to score with Miller adding his second and final conversion of the match.

And Wasps scored their bonus point try on 62 minutes when Dan Frost scrambled over from close range to ram home their advantage.

There was an element of fortune involved in Wasps’ fifth try as Ali Crossdale fumbled a high ball backwards between the legs before starting a flowing move that ended with Francois Hougaard touching down on 64 minutes.

Sale hit back on 69 minutes when Will Cliff finished off a kick and chase after the bounce deceived a Wasps defender with Tom Curtis converting.

But the visitors would score again just five minutes later when Theo Vukasinovic went over in the corner from a well-worked lineout before Wasps added their seventh try on 77 minutes when Odogwu eased over in the corner after the ball was worked out wide.

The home side completed the scoring with a bonus point try of their own in the final minute as Jack Metcalf intercepted a pass before touching down beneath the sticks with Curtis converting.

Wasps are next in action at home to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, March 26 with kick-off at 3pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

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