Cipriani on the mark for Wasps

Wasps overcame a second-half fightback from Sale to earn a hard-fought 22-16 Guinness Premiership victory at Adams Park.

Centre Ben Jacobs crossed for Wasps' only score in the first half while England wannabe Danny Cipriani kicked the remainder of his side's 17 points in a flawless display with the boot.

Down 10-6 at the break, Sharks rallied with Gavin Kerr scoring a 53rd minute try which Charlie Hodgson converted, while he also kicked two penalties and drop goal, earning his side a losing bonus point.

A quiet start to the match was broken with Jacobs' sparkling 14th-minute try, set up by Tom Varndell, who collected a deep kick from Hodgson in his own 22 and took off down the flank.

The England winger left Dafydd James for dead before exchanging passes with Jacobs, then found Warren Fury in midfield who offloaded again to Jacobs for a great score.

Cipriani converted from the touchline but the England reject, along with opposite number Hodgson, was unable to show his versatility in a dull kick-and chase exchange.

Overlooked

Hodgson got the Sharks on the board on 26 minutes and their defence continued to give the Wasps back line little room to flourish, the fly-half - also overlooked by England coach Martin Johnson - narrowed the lead further after lock Marty Veale handled in the ruck.

Cipriani replied in kind on the stroke of half-time to give Wasps a four-point lead, and five minutes after the restart he launched his second penalty from halfway that stretched the home advantage.

Most of the action remained in the middle third of the pitch but Sale's discipline continued to offer Cipriani opportunities and another penalty on 50 minutes gave Wasps a 10-point lead.

But the visitors hit back hard, Kerr's try coming out of nowhere after Wasps full-back Mark van Gisbergen failed to deal with another Hodgson bomb into the corner.

Opposite number Marika Vakacegu picked up the pieces before offloading to Kerr, who outpaced Serge Betsen for an opportunist try, Hodgson adding the two to bring Sharks within three points.

Cipriani gave the hosts some breathing space with a fourth penalty on the hour mark and when Eifion Lewis-Roberts was handed a yellow card 12 minutes from the end for not releasing 10 yards out, Wasps closed on victory.

Cipriani made it five in a row following a deliberate knock-on by Martin Halsall and it was left to Hodgson to complete the scoring in the dying minutes with a consolation drop goal.