Wasps hold off Saints rally

A Danny Cipriani try before half-time ended up being the difference between the two sides as Wasps held off a Northampton fightback in Sunday Guinness Premiership action at Adams Park.

Saints lost their unbeaten record after falling 17-3 behind at the break with Dave Walder adding four penalties to Cipriani's effort, but although the visitors upped their game in the second period they went down 20-15, earning a bonus point for the their troubles.

However, Wasps' victory was marred by a serious-looking injury to Lachlan Mitchell, who was stretchered off late on after appearing to take a hit in the face during a tackle.

Saints entered the game on a high after wins over Gloucester and Leeds but Wasps dominated the set piece and looked the more threatening in the loose.

Walder capitalised on their dominance to kick his side into a 9-0 lead inside 25 minutes as Saints were overrun by a dominant pack.

Fumble

And their frustration showed when a melee erupted following an aborted scrum, Wasps Phil Vickery coming off worst with blood pouring from an eye wound.

Shane Geraghty missed the resulting penalty from long range and Wasps should have extended the lead further when Ben Jacobs ran on to Dominic Waldouck's pass, but the Australian fumbled with Tom Varndell on the overlap.

However, the points continued to come and Walder added his fourth goal before Cipriani crossed for the game's only try, the stand-in full-back chasing a speculative kick from Joe Simpson and benefiting from the bounce to dash past Chris Ashton and touch down.

Walder failed to convert and Geraghty finally got his side on the scoresheet in first-half injury time, but Saints needed a strong turnaround to get anything from the contest.

Tony Hanks's half-time words clearly made a difference as his side came out strongly, Chris Mayor soon barging over only for the try to be disallowed for an earlier knock-on.

Rare miss

Geraghty nailed a second penalty on 54 minutes and he narrowed the arrears to eight points before the hour mark as the Saints fly-half started to dictate play with his pack finally delivering quality ball.

Walder curiously missed a sitter but quickly made amends by neatly slotting a drop goal 15 minutes from time.

Bruce Reihana made one of several breaks to take the Saints within five yards of the try-line but the ball was knocked on to give the hosts some relief, and when Geraghty missed another penalty five minutes from time it looked like Wasps had the points in safe keeping.

Not so, as Geraghty scored with another penalty attempt before Reihana'a long distance effort also went over to bring Saints to within a score, but despite serious late pressure Wasps held on.

However, Mitchell's injury left a slightly sour taste after he had come on for Cipriani in the 70th minute.