Wasps boost play-off hopes

Dave Walder booted 23 points to help Wasps to a 33-26 victory over Sale on Sunday.

The fly-half chipped in with six penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal during an all-round convincing display at Adams Park.

The win saw Wasps avoid an eighth defeat in their last nine matches and gave the Londoners a timely boost to their Aviva Premiership play-off hopes.

Wasps began strongly with Riki Flutey and Dominic Waldouck making strong runs before Walder struck his first penalty in the second-minute to give the home side the lead.

The Sharks gave possession away with some aimless kicking and when they were again penalised Walder slotted his second to make it 6-0.

Wasps continued to dominate the early exchanges and on 10 minutes Walder extended the lead to 9-0 with a third penalty.

Influential

Despite a bright start Wasps were unable to create any major try scoring opportunities but Walder struck a further two penalties as the Sharks struggled to keep their discipline.

Referee David Pearson's patience eventually ran out as the visitors continued to infringe and he sent prop Henry Thomas to the sin-bin for diving over at a ruck.

Waldouck was replaced by Nic Berry on 27 minutes after suffering a leg injury, forcing a reshuffle in the Wasps three-quarters that saw influential scrum half Joe Simpson moved onto the left wing.

Minutes before the interval, Chris Bell looked likely to score for Sale after latching onto a high ball.

But he was hauled down from behind by Simpson to leave Wasps leading 15-0 at the break.

Sale began the second half with purpose and the Sharks were rewarded when Ben Cohen crossed in the corner.

Dashed

Charlie Hodgson added the extras and then added a penalty to take the scores to 15-10 but Walder restored the advantage when he dropped a goal soon after.

Simpson and Richard Haughton then combined well inside their own half to send Flutey away on a 50-metre run to the line and Walder converted to make it 25-10.

Two penalties from Hodgson closed the gap to 25-16 as the game entered the final 15 minutes before Walder slotted his sixth.

Sale's hopes of a result were finally dashed when Haughton sent Simpson racing down the wing for a try.

But the visitors' had the final say when Wame Lewaravu scored and Hodgson converted before slotting a further penalty to close out the match.