By Loose Head (exclusive)
April 28 2002

Two months ago Wasps supporters would have been grateful for any sort of win. But after Leicester and Gloucester more was expected. This London derby didn't live up to expectations - even the curate would have turned his nose up as this egg. Expectations were high, as they always are when rugby's London version of the Old Firm get together. On paper Wasps looked the stronger team. Volls out on a red card ban and Fraser out injured courtesy of a pointless international 7s tournament, but standing in were the more than capable Mark Lock and Stuart Abbot. Quins were without their dead-eye kicker Paul Burke.

Wasps put pressure on from the start but not a lot came from it. So many times did an attack break down due to a dropped pass. The team was not performing at the top level. Victories are built on the 3 P's of pressure, position and points. Time and time again Wasps squandered that fourth P - possession. The line out was a shambles. It's one thing getting deep into enemy territory with a penalty to touch, but it comes to nothing if the thrower and jumper don't sort themselves out.

The main saving grace was that Quins were worse. They grabbed a penalty goal at 9 mins to put them in the lead but that was against the run of what play there was. Quins were on the back foot for most of the game. Josh Lewsey at full back is developing a monster clearance kick, a real get out of jail kick. He was incredibly unfortunate for an absolute howitzer from well inside the Wasps 22 to be caught on an infield breeze and an unlucky bounce to go dead over the Quins dead ball line and not find touch. The ensuing scrum to Quins was well outside the Wasps 22. Good work from the ref, Mr SLander. A penalty and a sweet drop goal from Alex King had Wasps ahead 6-3 at half time. Not much to show from either side for all the effort.

Quins were missing their regular kicker, a penalty attempt was foreshortened by the wind and a drop goal was fairly unrecognisable as an attempt on such.

The second half, for the neutral, saw the most comical event of the game and the reason why Quins may get relegated. Although the attacking penertration was noticeable by its absence for most of the game, Quins were inside the Wasps 22. Your loyal correspondant amongst others was shouting himself hoarse at Wasps, they were AWOL on the left. Two quins were there waiting for the inevitable. And there it was the cross field kick. I always think that if I can predict what is going to happen someone far better at the game than me on the pitch ought to as well. Here came a simple unopposed try, except the two Quins (if I knew who they were I would name and shame) collided and knocked the ball on. If you can't score open goals you don't deserve to win.

The rest of the second half continued as before, scrappy and frantic. Alex King tried putting shape on the game. He had a hard time building anything as every pass from Woody (the Wasps scrummie - not Uncle Fester) caused him to stop, reach or turn. Nothing able to be taken on the run. Alex asserted himself with a trademark King left foot kick over outside centre probing deep for the line. One of his classic controlling moves. Wasps seem to respond. In the following moves the ball went out right and found Josh at full tilt hitting the line. He was one of the stars in a bit of a dull performance. The move broke down after something the ref Lander saw, hard to tell with him.

A Quins penalty at 69 minutes put the scores at 6-6 (yes, that was the first score of the second half). More frantic stuff ensued, calmed a bit by Alex King's second drop goal at 78 minutes. Then a Quins penalty at 80 minutes would give the draw and put Quins 4 points above Leeds. Slemen pushed it wide. Injury time was a bit more frantic play topped off by Greenwood putting the cherry on a very lacklustre performance by gifting a pass to Shane Roiser who ran 60-70 yards to score under the posts and deny Quins even a bonus point.

Not the most inspiring of games. The upshot is that Quins next game against Leeds is absolutely crucial. The loser will almost definitely be relegated. For Wasps, believe it or not, winning the last two games with 5 points each with Sale and LI losing their's (and drawing the game between them), Wasps could mathematically still finish the season 3rd. What a strange world we live in.

More to follow ;-)

===
Loose Head