Heineken Cup Rugby: Wasps chalk up second win

Wasps 29 Treviso 24

Wasps chalked up only their second win of the season by beating Italian side Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup at Loftus Road.

Piling on the pressure, Wasps opened up the scoring with a long-range penalty from fly-half Alex King in the third minute, but the lead was short-lived.

First the Italians levelled with a drop-goal from fly-half Francesco Mazzarol and shortly afterwards, former Ireland full-back Simon Mason put the visitors into the lead with his first penalty.

With his side rooted to the foot of the Premiership table, Wasps coach Nigel Melville knows his job is on the line and the alarm bells were ringing again when Mason slammed over his second effort from 40 metres to put the Italian visitors further clear.

Wasps bravely fought back and in a mad scramble, newcomer Michael Roberts - standing in for Wasps’ Scottish international Kenny Logan - went over for the first try in the 25th minute with King converting.

Mason kicked another penalty in the 34th minute to put Treviso back in front, but a minute later King struck one through the uprights to put the home side ahead by one point.

A brilliant run in the 44th minute saw Wasps number eight Joe Worsley score a magnificent try converted by King to finally give the home fans something to cheer about, but four minutes later Mason kicked another successful penalty.

Although neither side has any realistic chance of advancing beyond the group stage, both sensed it was their best chance of a victory and tempers flared as they searched for the winning formula.

This was a match which showed signs of boiling over and at times it seemed that French referee Gerard Borreami was losing control as tempers flared.

King and Mason both proved their prowess with the boot, landing a succession of penalties, with Wasps clinging desperately to their advantage.

Melville’s men eventually made it to the final whistle, but in the cold light of day a five-point home win against an Italian outfit who had conceded an average of nearly 40 points a game in their previous two outings is not much to boast about.