Some superb tries were scored as Dave Walder and Wasps staged a second half fight back against Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership on the weekend, coming back from 30-18 down to win 37-30.
Wasps started well with a well taken try by speedster Tom Varndell, but Leicester came back with a try of their own through Matt Smith following a sprint and dummy down the left wing from Alesana Tuilagi.
Ben Youngs added to that with a sniping break from a quick tap to score a quality individual try. Varndell then scored again, this time from a lovely inside ball from Walder and then a classy step on hapless Tigers fullback, Geordan Murphy.
Billy Twelvetrees scored a soft try straight after that as he burst through fullback Matt Van Gisbergen, then Tom Croft worked his way over the line as Leicester shout out to a commanding 12 point lead at the interval.
“We were poor in the first half but at the break we resolved to build a score while locking our back door properly,” said Wasps flyhalf Walder, who then proceeded to kick four penalties, tying things up.
With five minutes left in the game Walder took command again, this time putting a neat kick ahead through for the chasing Richard Haughton, who gathered the loose ball for the winning try after Murphy looked dazed and confused, misjudging the bounce horribly.
Nineteen unanswered points meant that Wasps could hang on to the lead, despite the Tigers trying in vain with time up. Walder claimed 22 of the total with six penalties and two conversions, as well as two timely assists.
“That’s the way it goes with sport,” Walder said afterwards. “I was pleased with my game today and hopefully that will kick-start our season after the Newcastle match.”
The defence was shakey at times but some of the tries were superbly taken and the game was played at a great tempo and had high drama. Unfortunately only 8000 fans were on hand to witness it though, two thousand short of capacity.
Time:
06:31
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