Wasps overturn Northampton at Franklin's Gardens

A storming first-half performance, which saw Wasps lead 24-3 at the break, set the visitors up for a memorable victory, their first at Franklin’s Gardens since 2005. The result lifted them above Northampton, into fifth place in the Aviva Premiership.


11 - 24
Northampton SaintsWasps

Fri 29th January 2016
7:45 pm

Franklin's Gardens StadiumAviva Premiership
Wasps opened the scoring in the fifth minute, following a scrum just outside the Saints 22. Nathan Hughes made the initial surge, backed up by George Smith. A series of phases followed, with Alex Rieder and Smith making further thrusts for the line, before the referee took play back for a breakdown penalty, 15 metres in from the right touchline. Jimmy Gopperth landed the kick, to put his side ahead.
A minute later, a long Northampton throw on the Wasps 22, missed its jumper and George Smith gathered, before sending a long kick downfield. A good chase by Smith forced Harry Mallinder into touch just inside his 22. Wasps again controlled the ball through several phases, before strong defence forced them to spill it in contact.
With the rain falling and a lively breeze blowing, both sides made frequent use of the high kick, forcing a series of handling errors. On 25 minutes, Wasps stretched their lead with a Dan Robson try, after Rob Miller came into the line and fed Josh Bassett. The winger made several metres, before being stopped. Recycled ball was moved infield and George Smith burst through a tackle to feed Robson. The scrum-half was tackled just short, but grounded the ball on the base of the post. Gopperth’s straightforward conversion made the score 10-0, after 16 minutes.
Wasps came close to a second try, after Rob Miller gathered a high kick on his 22. He beat two men before sending the ball out to the left. George Smith combined with Brendan Macken and Sailosi Tagicabikau. He delivered a return pass to Macken, but the centre’s inside pass went forward on the 10-metre line, with a clear run to the line ahead.
On 25 minutes, Wasps added a second try, after another patient buildup, with Alex Rieder again prominent. Nathan Hughes made a powerful burst, before delivering a speculative pass out towards the left wing. It failed to go to hand, but Rob Miller darted in to gather off his toes, before beating a defender and going over from 15 metres. Gopperth again landed the conversion, to give Wasps a 17-0 lead.
Stephen Myler opened the home side’s account with a 27th minute penalty for a breakdown offence on the Wasps 22, the first the visitors had conceded  A minute later, the home side was stunned by a third Wasps try, again created by Rob Miller. He gathered a high ball deep inside his own half and split the defence with a magnificent run before feeding Josh Bassett, who juggled with his pass before going in next to the posts from 20 metres. Gopperth again converted, to make the score 24-3.
As halftime approached, a string of penalties enabled Northampton to mount a series of attacking lineouts near the right corner. With two minutes left on the clock, a powerful drive seemed certain to yield a try, but the Wasps defence managed to hold firm and win the put-in to a scrum. A Wasps penalty ensued and Gopperth’s kick to touch ended a superb half for The Black and Gold.
Two minutes into the second half, another Northampton penalty earned Nathan Hughes a yellow car, and Myler pulled back three points, from in front of the posts. Wasps then had an opportunity to set up a good position, with a Gopperth penalty finding touch on the home 22, but Edd Shervington’s throw in to the lineout was not straight.
After a few shaky minutes, Wasps composed themselves and a series of short drives won them a penalty, 8 metres inside the Northampton half. Gopperth missed the kick as it sailed to the right of the posts, but Hughes then returned from the sin bin, with Wasps still 18 points to the good.
As the game entered the final quarter, Northampton were beginning to find some continuity, but were still unable to find their way through the resolute Wasps defence. When Wasps found their way back into the Saints 22, a promising drive took them close to the line, before Sam Dickinson thwarted their progress.
Eight minutes from time, the home crowd was given a ray of hope when Dickinson went over for a try in the left corner. Hanrahan’s conversion went wide, leaving Wasps just over six minutes to hang on to their 13-point lead. By now, the bench had been cleared, making Jamie Stevenson the second debutant of the night, along with Alex Rieder, who had left the field with an impressive total of 13 carries to his name.
In the closing minutes, Wasps again exerted some control on the game and another patient build-up yielded a penalty, which Gopperth sent into the corner. Wasps were unable to win the lineout and Northampton threw caution to the wind, in desperate pursuit of a losing bonus point. They were unable to add a final score and Wasps were left to celebrate a memorable victory.

Northampton Saints Line ups


  1. Alex Waller
  2. Mike Haywood
  3. Kieran Brookes
  4. Michael Paterson
  5. Victor Matfield
  6. Tom Wood
  7. Teimana Harrison
  8. Sam Dickinson
  9. Tom Kessell
  10. Stephen Myler
  11. Tom Collins
  12. Luther Burrell
  13. George Pisi
  14. Jamie Elliott
  15. Harry Mallinder
  16. Matt Williams
  17. Ethan Waller
  18. Gareth Denman
  19. James Craig
  20. Christian Day
  21. Lee Dickson
  22. JJ Hanrahan
  23. James Wilson

Wasps Line ups


  1. Simon McIntyre
  2. Ed Shervington
  3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
  4. James Gaskell
  5. Kearnan Myall
  6. Alex Rieder
  7. George Smith
  8. Nathan Hughes
  9. Dan Robson
  10. Jimmy Gopperth
  11. Josh Bassett
  12. James Downey
  13. Brendan Macken
  14. Frank Halai
  15. Rob Miller
  16. Ashley Johnson
  17. Tom Bristow
  18. Phil Swainston
  19. James Cannon
  20. Thomas Young
  21. Jamie Stevenson
  22. Ruaridh Jackson
  23. Sailosi Tagicakibau