Wasps move to fifth with 39-22 win over Gloucester

Wasps 39-22 Gloucester Rugby, Ricoh Arena
Scorecard

Wasps maintained their new-found form as they registered a 39-22 win over Gloucester Rugby in the 13th round of the Gallagher Premiership at Ricoh Arena.

This is the the third win for Wasps in four games since Dai Young made his exit from the club as they moved to the fifth place in the table while Gloucester are at ninth place.

Wasps got off to a promising start when Jack Willis picked up an interception to score the opening try in the fifth minute and Jimmy Gopperth followed with the conversion and a drop goal to take them to a 10 point lead.

The home side were reduced to 14-men temporarily when Malakai Fekitoa was sin-binned in the 21st minute but despite the numerical disadvantage, Josh Bassett and Jacob Umaga dotted down for Wasps in the 25th and 28th minutes respectively to make the scoreline 22-0 before the half-hour mark.

Back to Back tries from Tom Marshall and Ollie Thorley in the 34th and 38th minutes helped Gloucester pull back things a bit before the former was sin-binned for a tackle without a ball in the 39th minute and immediately Nizaam Carr responded back with a try of his own to help the home side claim the bonus point and a 29-10 lead.

The Cherry and Whites were quickest to get off the block in the second half with a converted try from Billy Twelvetrees in the 48th minute but his effort was cancelled out by Fekitoa, who touched down on his return from sin-bin.

Close to the end of the third quarter, Louis Rees-Zammit was held up by Sopoaga as he tried to dot down but Lloyd Evans ensured they got five points to make the scoreline 36-22 while Gopperth's final penalty goal with 17 minutes left in the game sealed a 17-point victory.