By Sam Wheeler
January 4 2005

Tiniest Stinger (known to his mother as Sam) sat next to Barney at the Bristol cup game and watched him taking notes for the subsequent match report. He was suitably inspired to produce one of his own and here it is. Last week Wasps got back to winning ways versus Bristol in a 43 – 33 victory in extra time that should lift Wasps confidence sky-high . But that game has now past and now we have Gloucester in icy conditions and the Wasps wingers that threatened Bristol hope that they can do it again.

Wasps were hoping to win with Matt Dawson in for Harvey Biljon (who is on the bench) Abbott and Richards partner in the centre, while Hoadley sat on the bench; King was starting instead of Brooks; Will Green got in front of Nwume; Birkett partners Shaw at lock; Dallaglio plays at eight having started at six last week; and Worsley resumes at six.

Wasps won the kick-off and kicked it in touch. Wasps got a free-kick from a scrum but Gloucester got a penalty. They went for goal but missed it (2 minutes played). Wasps got a penalty which they kicked through. Then following a reset scrum Wasps got a further penalty. They took a tap penalty and they get another one! They kicked this one to touch and from the throw they drove over O’Connor for a try after 7 minutes (7-0).

From van Gisbergen’s boot Wasps got the ball from the restart. Gloucester kicked to touch. Gloucester got a penalty and went for goal 7-3, Henry Paul scored it 10minutes played. Wasps got a penalty straight after that and van Gisbergen went for the sticks and made no mistake (10-3, 13 minutes) Seti Kiole knocked on. From the Wasps scrum and following a line out Wasps were rewarded with another penalty. They go for the posts but miss it. Penalty to the Cherries who go for goal and score it (10-6, 24 minutes). Another Cherries penalty a few minutes later closed the gap to just one point. (10-9, 27 minutes).

The Wasps forwards set up a 20 yard rolling maul, Dawson broke from the back and was supported by O’Connor with the try being finished of by Lewsey in the right hand corner. Van Gisbergen got the conversion (score 17-9, 30 minutes).

King finds touch and Gloucester win the lineout and Wasps get the ball and pass to touch however the referee Roy Maybank had already awarded a penalty to Gloucester who go for goal and Paul gets his fourth penalty kick (17-12, 38 minutes). Maybank gets in the way of a pass for the second time in the game and from the Wasps scrum they get another penalty and go for goal to end the first half with an eight point lead (20-12, 40+2).

Wasps have the kick off of the second half, Gloucester take it in but Wasps were awarded a penalty for not rolling away. They kick successfully for goal (23-12, 43 minutes). The Cherries then take off their starting ten Davies and bring on Mauger. A penalty reduces the points gap to eight as Gloucester score again (23-15, 45 minutes).

King kicks a Wasps penalty to touch and after a reset scrum Wasps are awarded a further penalty in the middle of the pitch and Henry Paul a yellow card for not rolling away (26-15, 52minutes). Both Lewsey and Richards both make a break however Adam Useless finds a huge touch to relieve the pressure. Forrester on Hazell off, but Abbott stays on the pitch despite going down with an injury. Wasps were given a penalty however Bezuidenhout immediately obstructs Dawson from taking a quick tap and go and heads to the touchline after being shown a yellow card (57 minutes). Wasps pressure the Gloucester defence and knock on when over the try line. At the scrum N Wood comes on to complete the Cherries front row and Boer goes off. Henry comes back from the bin but are still one man down. Ben Gotting off for Jonny Barrett. The ten minutes for the second yellow has run off but as Wasps take a series of quick penalties Boer cannot get on the pitch. Eventually all the Wasps pressure brings Simon Shaw a try (71 minutes) and Boer gets back on. Van Gisbergen converts (72 minutes). Matt Dawson, Alex King and Stuart Abbott off for Harvey Biljon James Brooks and Rob Hoadley, Will Green off for Ali McKenzie.

Jamie Forrester scores an easy try after Paul strips the ball from Voyce (33-20) but Paul misses the conversion (78minutes). Jon Goodridge off for Paul Bailey (78 minutes). A knock on from Hoadley ends a promising attack as Wasps go for the bonus point. Richard Birkett off for John Hart. The game ends with a Gloucester knock on. Johnny O’Connor is announced as man of the match, however my man of the match is Joe Worsley for his tackling.