Wasps lift Singha Premiership 7s title for second year on the spin - The Coventry Observer

Wasps lift Singha Premiership 7s title for second year on the spin

Coventry Editorial 31st Jul, 2017   0

RUGBY UNION: FOR the second year running, Wasps lifted the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s title after a grand final win over Newcastle.

Dai Young’s men started the day with a comfortable quarter final win over Sale Sharks before being pushed all the way by Exeter Chiefs in their semi-final.

But a standout performance from Josh Bassett saw the 25-year-old score seven tries to make him the tournament’s top try-scorer.

Wasps started their quarter final tie in turbulent style as Sale’s Arron Read scored from a scrum on the left.




A further try for Sale put Wasps on the backfoot, but a try from Marcus Watson and then Guy Thompson brought Dai Young’s side back into the game.

Wasps added a further try in the first minute of the second half through Guy Thompson.


Marcus Watson added a fourth try before Wasps stamped their authority on the game to eventually win 27-10.

Sunday’s semi-final created the latest chapter in the Wasps-Exeter saga after the Chiefs saw off Saracens in the last of the quarter-finals.

Exeter took the game to Wasps and by half-time led 17-12.

A converted try from Christian Wade put Wasps 21-17 ahead before Exeter’s last ditch challenge in the closing seconds was successfully cleared.

Elsewhere Newcastle’s extra-time win over Harlequins set up a repeat of the opening clash of the tournament.

With rain arriving, an early handling error by Newcastle earned Wasps a scrum outside the Falcons’ 22.

Craig Hampson broke wide to the right before passing inside to Dan Robson, who went over between the posts and added the conversion.

Newcastle hit back when Adam Radwan scored in the left corner, though the conversion was missed.

The Falcons were soon back in front after the restart when Cameron Cowell’s kick-ahead bounced back off the post and he gathered to touch down at the base of the post.

His conversion put his side 12-7 ahead.

Wasps soon drew level when a well-worked attack ended with Brendan Macken’s long pass giving Christian Wade a simple try, which Dan Robson converted. At this point Wasps led 14-12.

Josh Bassett scored his seventh try shortly into the second half to put Wasps nine points clear.

And Dai Young’s men failed to look back from there as Craig Hampson and Gabi Lovobalavu added more points to their tally to win the final 31-12.

Wasps start their pre-season campaign on Thursday, August 17, with an away trip against Ulster.

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