Wasps vs Dragons Match Report

London Wasps snuck past a spirited Newport-Gwent Dragons team to all but earn a home match in the quarter-finals of the Amlin challenge Cup.

Even though they had secured qualification, Wasps coach, Dai Young, named a strong side to ensure that they would be playing at Adams Park in the next round.

The home side got the first score of the night with a Tom Prydie penalty before Nick Robinson levelled with one of his own. Dan Evans then scored for the home team before Robinson converted his second penalty of the night.

Wasps were then awarded a penalty try but Prydie made sure that the sides were level at half-time with 13 points apiece as he scored another penalty.

Both sides game plans were evident from the off. Dragons were bombarding Wasps with high kicks whilst the away side were trying to get the ball to dangermen Tom Varndell and Christian Wade as much as possible.
And it was a high ball that led to Dan Evans try. Wasps took it into contact but clever counter rucking saw Jonathan Evans break away with the ball before it got shipped to the wing for his namesake to score. Prydie added the conversion.

Robinson had the chance to get three more points on the board through a penalty but hit the post. Dragons had their clearance kick charged down but Andrea Masi knocked on over the line. They turned the resulting scrum over though and earned themselves a penalty try from the next, which Robinson converted.

Prydie scored a penalty after half-time but Toby Faletau got a yellow card for persistent infringement and things got worse for his side as patient build up from Wasps meant that Robinson was able to grubber over the try line and score. He successfully converted before being replaced by Stephen Jones.

Both Prydie and Elliot Daly failed with long-range conversions as the Dragon’s defence went up a gear with Launchbury and Wade becoming the subjects of big hits.

Prydie missed his third kick of the night so Steffan Jones came on to take over kicking duties and he succeeded, bringing the deficit to just one point. They threatened right at the end with two impressive breaks but it just wasn’t meant to be for the Welsh team.