WASPS PRODUCED THE ideal start to today’s Champions Cup semi-final, scoring with their very first set of phases against Saracens.
Owen Farrell kicked off deep into Wasps territory, but the next time he got his hands on the ball his side were seven points down.
Wasps made their intent to run the ball clear from the very beginning, and despite some slow phases, they eventually manufactured a gap for Christian Wade to raid on the right wing.
The Lions tourist ate up the metres of open field and picked out a pass to supporting runner, scrum-half Dan Robson, who did well to step his opposite number and finish in the corner.
That was the first minute of the game, and by the second Jimmy Gopperth had nailed difficult touchline conversion to give the underdogs a 7 – 0 lead at the Madejski.
Wasps rode their luck through the Saracens pressure that followed, with the TMO ruling out a Duncan Taylor touchdown for a shove from Chris Ashton and Farrell’s goal-kicking radar malfunctioning. However, Mark McCall’s men got on the board in the 30th minute when Gopperth’s clearance kick was charged down and Mike Rhodes gathered before falling over the line.
Farrell missed that conversion to leave the score at 5 – 7, but the English number 10 did manage to open his account on the stroke of half-time, kicking a straightforward penalty to give his side an 8 – 7 lead at the break.
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