Leeds v Wasps (Sat) - GP - Final Weekend

[getofmeland]

<div align="center"> Leeds v Wasps (Sat) </div>
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP
Date: Saturday, 10 May Kick-off: 1500 BST Venue: Headingley
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio Leeds 92.4 FM, 774 AM, DAB and online at bbc.co.uk/leeds; live scores on BBC Sport website

Captain Stuart Hooper plays his final game for relegated Leeds before his summer move to Bath.

Also making their final appearances for the Headingley club on Saturday are John Holtby, Pablo Bouza, Mark Lock and Darren Edwards.

Wasps have named England fly-half Danny Cipriani on the bench, with Jeremy Staunton starting in his place.

Skipper Lawrence Dallaglio returns at number eight, alongside Joe Worsley and James Haskell in the back row.

Meanwhile, Wasps lock Simon Shaw is set to become the first player to make 200 Premiership appearances - having made his debut back in October 1997.

Departing Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster:
"Wasps is obviously a great challenge for us and we have spoken about the importance of finishing the season well in front of our own fans.

"Both players and coaching staff are determined to finish well and take us through in a positive frame of mind into our off and pre-season programmes."

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan:
"We have had some big results over the last three months, and our success has been down to an excellent squad effort, in which every player has played his part.

"This season it has been obvious that every game in the Premiership has been very competitive. Leeds have remained a difficult team to play against all year, and gave us a very competitive game at Adams Park earlier in the season - I'm sure it will be no different on Saturday."

Leeds: Hinton, Armstrong, Vickerman, Holtby, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Bedford, MacDonald, Ma'asi, McGee, Hooper (capt), Myall, Dunbar, Fourie, Balding. Replacements: Hopcroft, Rawlingon, Bouza, Lock, Edwards, Greendale, Hepworth.

Wasps: Van Gisbergen, Sackey, Waldouck, Flutey, Voyce, Staunton, Reddan, French, Ibanez, Holford, Shaw, Palmer, Worsley, Haskell, Dallaglio (capt). Replacements: Ward, Payne, Birkett, Webber, McMillan, Lewsey, Cipriani.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi...ish/7388028.stm

 

[Vambo]

B)

 

[horusthewasp]

Get in Voycee!!!

45 -28 ... Sweet

 

[getofmeland]

Well I am looking forward to coming to Wasps and having to fight for a final place... Last time we were there we put out a weak side but Wasps have grown from then... Should be a good semi final!!

 

[horusthewasp]

Well I am looking forward to coming to Wasps and having to fight for a final place... Last time we were there we put out a weak side but Wasps have grown from then... Should be a good semi final!!
[/b]

Well the last game we had against Bath was a close one.

Should be a good one. Shame I can't make the game...maybe I'll make May 31st!

 

[getofmeland]

Leeds (16) 28
Tries: Biggs, Hepworth, Fourie Cons: Di Bernardo 2 Pens: Di Bernardo 3

Wasps (24) 45
<div align="center">

Tries: Voyce 3, Waters, Ibanez, Ward Cons: Staunton 6 Pens: Staunton
​

Wasps' Paul Sackey gets by Leeds forward Tom McGee
</div>
Tom Voyce's hat-trick saw London Wasps to the bonus-point victory they needed to seal second spot in the Premiership despite a brave performance from Leeds.

Alberto di Bernardo put Leeds 9-0 up before Voyce's first, but Tom Biggs's interception try put the hosts on top.

Wasps upped the ante, though, and tries from Voyce, Fraser Waters and Rafael Ibanez secured the crucial bonus point.

Jonny Hepworth and Hendre Fourie bagged a couple in reply, but Joe Ward and Voyce's third sealed the win for Wasps.

The result means Wasps will enjoy home advantage against third-placed Bath - who lost to Gloucester - in the play-off semi-finals.

Wasps have timed their end-of-season run to perfection again this campaign, but they were almost made to pay for a sluggish start by a Leeds side playing with a freedom and confidence that belied their relegation form.

Di Bernardo scored three penalties from three in the first 15 minutes and, after Voyce had crossed following good work from the pack to reduce the deficit, Biggs intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field to put the hosts 16-7 up.

It looked like Wasps might face a half-time dressing down, but Voyce turned Leigh Hinton inside-out and grabbed a second try to help put the Londoners ahead for the first time. Despite being below their best, Wasps then extended their lead thanks to a Waters try and when Ibanez ended a flowing move with a try on 50 minutes it was game over.

That score also ensured Wasps a bonus point and the margin was almost extended seconds later when Voyce crossed for what looked a legitimate hat-trick - but the score was ruled out for an earlier forward pass.

With the bonus point secured, Wasps eased off and Jonny Hepworth and Hendre Fourie made the most of some slack defending to cross for the home side.

Those scores came either side of Ward's try, the substitute finishing off an excellent ruck from the Wasps pack, and Voyce danced over late on to seal a comfortable win and claim his hat-trick.

The victory also extends the career of England's World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, who retires at the end of this campaign.

Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster, who will join the RFU this summer:
"It was an emotional day - it has been a great occasion. Sadly we're relegated but I'm leaving a good set-up here behind.

"The spirit at this club is a great one - my advice to Leeds is to avoid complacency because the National League One is a tough one but we have the resources here to come back.

"This performance encapsulates our whole season - great endeavour, some excellent tries but the unforced error at crucial moments.

"Wasps had to win and win well but we kept coming back at them - they're a very good defensive side but we caused them problems. Our weakness is the consistency of decision making at crucial moments."

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan:
"It was a fantastic performance under the conditions. To work as hard and as long as we did really reflects what has happened to us since October when we were 10th in the league.

"We have the smallest squad in this league and it has been a major effort to achieve what we have.

"The play-offs are played at a different level, you have to step up and we have just two more games ahead of us and there are four very big names represented.

"We've had a very punishing schedule towards the end of this season but I know we can go on further. There's a lot to play for."

Leeds: Hinton; Armstrong, Vickerman, Holtby, Biggs; Di Bernardo, Bedford; MacDonald, Ma'asi, McGee, Hooper, Myall, Dunbar, Fourie, Balding.
Replacements: Hepworth for Armstrong (19), Greendale for Di Bernardo (71), Edwards for Bedford (40), Rawlinson for Ma'asi (61), Hopcroft for McGee (61), Bouza for Dunbar (56), Lock for Balding (46).

Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Flutey, Voyce; Staunton, Reddan; French, Ibanez, Holford, Shaw, Palmer, Worsley, Haskell, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Lewsey for Sackey (18), McMillan for Reddan (46), Payne for French (40), Ward for Ibanez (54), Birkett for Shaw (60), Webber for Worsley (61).
Not Used: Cipriani.

Att: 7,842

Ref: Andrew Small (RFU).

From BBC Sport