By Saint On The Spot
May 6 2002

The Saints were out muscled by a robust Wasps pack at a suprisingly quiet Loftus Road on Saturday and their Heineken Cup qualification for next season lies in the balance. With a week of the season left Saints supporters are left on tenterhooks with it all still to play for right up to the wire. With Sundays results not helping matters the Saints sit in seventh place knowing that only places higher up the table would secure a European berth and with their destiny in their own hands with games against Bristol and Newcastle the players and coaches must dig deep and regroup to get anything out of this season.

The game itself was played by both sides looking to push themselves further up the Zurich table and no quarter was asked or given as player after player had to receive treatment for various cuts, bumps and bruises.

Suprisingly, and despite a fair number of visiting supporters, the Wasps faithful did not turn up in numbers for what is in all probability their last game at Loftus Road. A paltry 6000 turned up to wave goodbye to a team that may be playing, it is now rumoured, at Oxford next season.

THe Saints started well with a Grayson penalty on the board in the opening minutes but once Wasps regained compusure they hit and forced back the Saints at every opportunity. Missing the nous and power of Andy Blowers in the back row it was left mostly to Budge Pountney to try and keep pace with the Wasps back row. It was too much for one man and the home team soon had a stranglehold on the game.

On the quarter hour Wasps got their first rewards as Alex King kicked his first penalty after a Saints indiscretion. More of the same was to follow after a high tackle by Tom Smith and an alleged punch from Matt Dawson allowed King and then Logan to give their side a 9-6 halftime lead.

The Saints hit back immediatley after the break with another Larry penalty but it was our last points of the day. Five minutes later King wiped that score out before a lineout drive enabled Simon Shaw to go over for the only try of the afternoon.

The last word though went to the person who had just about every other word the whole day (yes he even out chatted Matt D). Lawrence Dallaglio who all afternoon had tried to swerve the referee with his petulant views and intimadating stance was finally asked to go and cool his heels for ten minutes.

For the Saints supporters it was the biggest cheer of the afternoon! It was that kind of day...........