By Loose Head
October 8 2002

Wasps were not able to cope with Northampton forwards in the loose and for the first time this season gained no points from a game. An unfortunate slide back against a very unforgiving Northampton. A very physical game, with 2 blood bins and an injury for Wasps within the first 15 minutes. The Saints first try came after Sammo, the full back, chipped ahead and appeared to be deliberately nudged when running through. As this happened about 2 yards from the touch judge it obviously wasn't spotted. Saints retrieved the ball and ran straight back. With Sammo the full back now out of position Saints were able to put the ball along the line and run it in.

Northampton came out all guns blazing, determined to put a very physical marker down right from the word go. Howley, key to Wasps performance against London Irish, was targeted and after six minutes was off for stitches. Three minutes later he was followed by Shaw, and four minutes after that Dowd went off with injured ribs.

There were unnecessary mistakes from Sammo and King when they kicked downfield only to have the ball go out on the full or dead, putting the pressure straight back on Wasps.

The biggest contrast in the game was with the forwards. Wasps lineout worked well, we even pinched a couple of the Saints' lineouts. The Wasps scrum had Northampton in all kinds of trouble. However, when it came to play in the loose the boot was firmly on the other foot. Wasps just didn't have an answer to the rampaging Northampton driving maul. And the number of times the ball was lost in close contact was absurd. Coupled with the handling errors, this all made for a difficult base on which to build.

When the momentum is with you things happen, and with the possession and position they were getting it was inevitable that Northampton were able to get a second try, coming off the back of a scrum in our 22. All Wasps had to show for their effort in the first half was a couple of penalties. He half time score was Saints 15 Wasps 6.

The old penalty problem re-emerged to help sink up. After four minutes of the second half the score had jumped to Saints 21 Wasps 6. Wasps seemed unable to build on their own good work. A steal at a lineout was lost straightaway in the maul again. Then a scrum to Northampton in their 22 was easily turned by Wasps to reverse the put-in. From this really secure forwards base, a pop brought Josh Lewsey into the line at pace. He always has the strength to drive though tacklers ? often taking them with him. He broke through for a try. At last the score was doing something. Saints 21 Wasps 13. There were a couple more penalties to Saints, just to make the hard work from Wasps wasted. One penalty came from Denney following through to tackle Ripol way after Ripol had grubber kicked through, that earned him a yellow card.

Northampton scored a third try through the deadly effective driving maul play of their forwards. Even though towards the end of the game Wasps were camped on the Saints line making drive after drive they were unable to break through the defence. Wasps gained a consolation try when Kenny Logan (brought on in the first half for Sammo) intercepted the ball and coasted in. The final score was Saints 34 Wasps 20.

Saints won fair and square. Wasps put themselves under pressure needlessly though silly mistakes and poor handling and were unable to cope with the externally applied pressure.


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Loose Head