Late win for Wasps

A Mark McMillian try eight minutes into added-on time gave Wasps a thrilling 32-30 win over Bristol at Adams Park.

Bristol looked to be heading for the points when they led 30-25 entering into the final minute, but the visitors were repeatedly penalised close to their line as Wasps pressured.

Andrew Blowers was yellow carded for Bristol and, with eight minutes of added-on time gone, substitute scrum-half McMillin dived over from the base of the scrum to tie the scores - with Dave Walder's conversion winning it for Wasps.

The win, secured with the last kick of the game, keeps Wasps' play-off hopes just about alive, as coach Craig Dowd signed off with a win in his last game before returning to New Zealand.

Excitement

Each side scored four tries in a pulsating contest that the visitors thought they had won when Blowers had a 74th-minute try chalked off after referee Ashley Rowden ruled he had dropped the ball on the line.

Wasps scorched into a 12-0 lead with Dominic Waldouck screaming through from 40 metres and David Doherty going in at the corner.

Centre Rob Higgitt and winger Anthony Elliott both scored tries for Bristol to make sure they went in at 15-15 at the break.

Bristol moved ahead for the first time three minutes after the break with an Ed Barnes penalty, but Wasps responded with a third try coming from hooker Joe Ward.

Hooker Scott Linklater touched down and Elliott got his second as Bristol scored two tries in three minutes to move 30-22 ahead by the hour mark.

Walder kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears but Wasps still looked like falling to defeat before their late pressure told.

Blowers' yellow card was quickly followed by McMillan's try after he dived over from the base of a scrum.

A nerve-jangling finish was capped when Walder, Danny Cipriani's understudy at fly-half, sent the last kick of the game sailing between the posts for the winning points.