Wasps back on top as Irish crush Leeds
CENTRE Dominic Waldouck was the unlikely hero as Wasps registered a third consecutive Premiership victory, a 23-3 win over Worcester, to return to their perch at the top of the table yesterday.
Waldouck, who only played after an 11th-hour injury ruled out Steve Kefu, seized his chance with both hands and was instrumental in both of his side’s tries.
France flanker Serge Betsen and England wing Tom Varndell both went over, while fly-half Danny Cipriani kicked 13 points for the resurgent Londoners.
Victory lifted Wasps above Saracens, the only other team with a 100 per cent record, on points difference, although London Irish stayed a single point adrift with a 56-7 rout of Leeds Carnegie in Sunday’s other clash. Exiles wing Adam Thompstone led the demolition with a hat-trick of tries in just 26 second-half minutes, while No8 Chris Hala’ufia crossed twice for last season’s runners-up. A penalty try, a late seventh try from Sailosi Tagicakibau and the boot of Ryan Lamb completed the scoring.
England manager Martin Johnson, meanwhile, was given a timely reminder of Jonny Wilkinson’s abilities yesterday when the record-breaking fly-half kicked all of Toulon’s points in an 18-13 win over Toulouse.
Wilkinson, who has not played for England since the 2008 Six Nations following a spate of injuries, is returning to form just as Johnson mulls over the loss of sidelined backs Riki Flutey and Delon Armitage.
“He is without doubt back to his best level,” Toulouse’s Frederic Michalak said of the 30-year-old. “Each time he came into our half he scored points.
It’s important to have someone like that in your team.”