Connacht stung by late Wasps surge

Wasps 33 Connacht 27

It took a last minute penalty by Scotland¹s Kenny Logan and a try deep into stoppage time to deny a brave Connacht side in this pre-season friendly played at Adams Park in High Wycombe today.

This was Wasps first game at their new home at Adams Park - home to Wycombe Wanderers - and they honoured the occasion by fielding a strong side which included nine full internationals, including a debut for Welsh summer signing Rob Howley.

Connacht also fielded a strong side with former Scottish captain Eric Peters making his debut and former Australian lock Warwick Waugh starting for the first time.

The sides were level at 10-10 at the the end of an entertaining first-half which saw Wasps apply enormous pressure but they found the Connacht defence in superb form and could not find a way through, with Johnny O¹Connor and Eric Peters superb.

Wasps eventually went ahead after 18 minutes when fly-half Alex King converted a penalty under the posts after Connacht were penalised for offside.

But Connacht were back on level terms after 27 minutes when Eric Elwood landed a penalty from 40 metres on the left after a good break by full-back Gavin Duffy had made important ground.

Better was to come for Connacht a minute later when Rowan Frost stole a Wasps lineout before Eoin Reddan and Eric Elwood displayed slick handling to send Duffy through for a superb try under the posts.

The Connacht defence was finally prised open seven minutes from the break with flanker Paul Volley getting in at the right corner for Wasps first try at their new ground.

King added the difficult convert to level the game at the break. Wasps made a great start to the second-half with centre Stuart Abbott breaking through the centre to set up full-back Josh Lewsey for an unconverted try.

But Connacht responded immediately with Duffy kicking and chasing before offloading to ted Robinson who touched down in the right corner. Elwood added the awkward conversion to edge Connacht 17-15 in front.

Wasps regained the lead after 52 minutes when Volley grabbed his second try after a close range lineout win by Lawrence Dallaglio. King added the points to put Wasps 22-17 in front.

Connacht kept in touch when Elwood landed a 45 metre penalty on the hour to leave just two points between them going into the final quarter as both sides made wholesale changes as the sweltering heat took its toll.

Kenny Logan was off target with a Wasps penalty ten minutes from time but he made no mistake two minutes later to extend their lead to five points.

Connacht showed great spirit, turning over ball inside the Wasps 22 before Reddan, Elwood and Darren Yapp combined to send Robinson in for his second try of the match and level the game.

Elwood landed the touchline conversion to edge Connacht 27-25 in front with five minutes remaining.

However, Connacht were denied by the that later Logan penalty and Lewis try at the end of a good workout for both sides.

Wasps: J. Lewsey; J. Rudd, S. Abbott, M. Denney, K. Logan; A. King, R. Howley; C. Dowd, P. Greening, D. Molloy; S. Shaw, R. Birkett; J. Worsley, L. Dallaglio, P. Volley. Replacements: W. Green for Molloy, 46 mins; J. Beardshaw for Shaw, 46 mins; B. Gotting for Greening, 55 mins; M. Wood for Howley, 55 mins; P. Sampson for Abbott, 56 mins; D. Lewis for King, 60 mins; A. Kershaw for Dowd, 60 mins;

Connacht: G. Duffy; T. Robinson, D. O¹Sullivan, T. Allnutt, W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; R. McCormack, M. Uijs, P. Bracken; W. Waugh, R. Frost; C. Rigney, E. Peters, J. O¹Connor.

Replacements: J. O¹Sullivan for Peters, 58 mins; D. Yapp for D. O¹Sullivan, 59 mins; D. McFarland for McCormack, 59 mins; F. Boiroux for Bracken, 59 mins; H. Bourke for Uijs, 60 mins; P. Neville for Rigney, 72 mins; M. Walls for Reddan, 77 mins.

Referee: M. Fox.