Wasps downed by Scarlets fever
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:16
A sweetly-struck Ceiron Thomas drop-goal deep into injury time felled the English champions, London Wasps, on their home patch - as they went down 17-20 to the Llanelli Scarlets at Adams Park, High Wycombe, on Friday.
The 24-year-old flyhalf landed his kick after 43 minutes of the second half.
Aussie No.8 David Lyons, flyhalf Stephen Jones and prop Iestyn Thomas were influential throughout and there was much powerful tackling from the visitors.
Wasps, whose stars included England internationals Paul Sackey and James Haskell, took the lead after eight minutes with a Mark van Gisbergen penalty. They were pegged back by a Jones penalty 10 minutes later.
However, home fullback van Gisbergen hit two more penalties and flank Dafydd Jones was yellow carded.
The Wasps lead was extended when Irish scrumhalf Eoin Reddan crossed but – following sharp work by Simon Easterby and Darren Daniel - wing Mark Jones touched down to leave the Scarlets 14-8 down as the second half beckoned.
Jones and van Gisbergen struck more penalties, before Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez was binned for a professional foul and Jones bagged another three points.
Replacement No.10 Thomas levelled the scores on 70 minutes and, after missing a late penalty, succeeded with his dramatic 30-metre winner.
The Scarlets now look forward to starting their Magners League campaign against Ulster in Belfast next Friday.
Scorers:
For London Wasps:
Try: Reddan
Pens: Van Gisbergen 4
For Llanelli Scarlets:
Try: M Jones
Pens: S Jones 3, Thomas
DG: Thomas
Teams:
London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Lachlan Mitchell, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe
Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 Raphael Ibanez (captain), 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Tom French, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 James Haskell, 20 Mark Robinson, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 Paul Sackey.
Llanelli Scarlets: 15 Morgan Stoddart, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Darren Daniels, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Sililo Martens, 8 Gavin Thomas, 7 David Lyons, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Simon Maling, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Kees Meeuws, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John.
Replacements - from: Iestyn Thomas, Mahonri Schwalger, Vernon Cooper, Johnathan Edwards, Martin Roberts, Ceiron Thomas, Gavin Evans, Deacon Manu, Dafydd Jones, Rob Higgitt, Dafydd James.
Referee: Dean Richards
Touch judges: Stuart Terheege, Alan Hughes
