Records tumble as Wasps enjoy home comforts
WASPS fly-half Andy Goode hailed the perfect start to life in Coventry as records tumbled during his side’s bonus-point 48-16 victory over London Irish at yesterday’s Ricoh Arena curtain-raiser.
Goode set a new Premiership record by scoring 33 points – the 34-year-old successfully kicked eight penalties and two conversions to add to a second-half touchdown – while the 28,254 attendance was a further top-flight milestone.
Scrum-half Joe Simpson, Elliot Daly and Andrea Masi also powered over in the second period for sixth-placed Wasps, rendering prop Geoff Cross’ opening try and three Tom Homer penalties for the visitors irrelevant.
Goode’s heroics eclipsed the 32-point record set by London Irish winger Niall Woods against Harlequins in April 1998, which allied to the victory proved the ideal way to usher in a new chapter to the club’s history.
“It sounds a bit cheesy, but that really is the stuff dreams are made of,” said Goode. “Obviously as a Sky Blues fan I’ve been up here to watch Coventry City play a few times, so it was great for me to run out and play here.
“And then to come off and find out it was an individual Premiership points record is Christmas come early for me.
“I said to the lads before the game ‘let’s not get carried away by the emotion of it’. And, although the first half was pretty turgid, we’ve got the job done in the end.”
Defeat sees London Irish remain 11th in the league table, two points adrift of Newcastle Falcons, although Exiles boss Brian Smith was left deflated by his side’s inability to build on a first-half showing which only left them trailing 18-16 at the break.
“We knew what to expect and we made a decent fist of it but we’re disappointed with the blow-out at the back end,” said Smith.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Wasps, as it was their day, but we have a frustrated group of players.”