The Wasps team, for the first half, featured Lawrence Dallaglio, in practice for the Help for Heroes match at Twickenham and French international Serge Betsen making his debut for Wasps.

Quins had started well showing determination and passion.  It was only the second minute when a superb arcing run from his own twenty-two by George Lowe carried on by Taione and Amesbury allowed Sam Smith to score a fine try in the left corner.

Seb Jewell missed with his conversion attempt.

Wasps attacked from the restart and the first of the many penalties conceded by Quins allowed Walder a simple kick from in front of the posts.  Seb Jewell kicked a penalty for Quins successfully, but Wasps increased the pressure and although defending stoutly, two further penalties allowed Wasps to take the lead at 9 – 8.

Then the ball was moved rapidly left from a scrum and the Wasps’ winger (and former Harlequin) Mark Odejobi went at speed along the left touchline, handed off two tacklers and scored in the corner.  Walder failed with the conversion. 

Immediately from the restart Walder set his backs running, cutting far too easily through the defence. The ball passed rapidly to Hoadley and on to Henry Barratt (yet another former Harlequin) who touched down for the try. Walder added the conversion. Two tries in as many minutes took the game out of Quins’ reach as after only an half-hour’s play Wasps led by 21 – 8 and increased the lead to 24 – 8 with another penalty from Walder before half-time.

The second half brought the inevitable changes in personnel. Harlequins had a fresh fly half in the person of Will Greenwood, also practising for the Heroes match, until a bad gash to his leg that required stitching removed him from the fray.  The early part of the half was an error-strewn midfield battle until another penalty allowed Walder to further increase Wasps’ lead.

Harlequins attempted to attack but were halted when a poor pass from Charlie Amesbury was anticipated and easily intercepted by Odejobi who ran the 40 metres to the line, unopposed, for his second try of the match and another successful conversion extended the score to 34 – 8.

Renewed attacking efforts took Quins deep into the Wasps twenty-two and from a scrum near the Wasps’ line Tom Guest forced his way over for a try.  Amesbury kicked the conversion.  Quins had superiority in the scrum but failed to make it count and they continued to fall foul of the refereeing of the breakdown and commit unforced errors.  A further Wasps penalty took the score to 37 – 15.

Then as time ticked away, an attempted quick tap at a twenty-two drop-out by a Wasps’ forward saw the ball run loose for Chris York to kick forward and follow up to score a try.  Jewell failed with the conversion leaving Wasps the winners 37 – 20.

HARLEQUINS:

15. Charlie Amesbury, 14. George Lowe, 13. De Wet Barry,  12. Epi Taione, 11. Sam Smith, 10. Seb Jewell, 9. Andy Gomarsall, 1. Alex Rogers, 2. Aston Croall, 3. Mark Lambert, 4. Shane O’Connor, 5. Jim Evans, 6. Phil Davies, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tom Guest
Substitutes: 16. Micky Ponting, 17. Joe Marlar, 18. Chris York, 19. Tom Sargeant, 20. Gareth Williams, 21 Seb Stegman, 22. Will Greenwood.

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