Only a losing bonus point to show for their efforts but Saints played well throughout against a top four side looking to consolidate their place in the Premiership play offs.

Today could only get better, after I discovered that some toe rags had managed to electronically overcome the central locking and alarm on my 12 month old VW and make off into the night with my Tom Tom sat nav. Fortunately, the car and I know the way to the High Wycombe cul de sac that is Wasps home and rather splendid it looked in the unseasonally warm sunshine. A typically firm and fast looking footie pitch meant a fast game was likely and so it proved.

Wasps fielded a strong team despite the absence of old stagers Dallaglio and King and the new young happening boy, Tom Rees and such is their quality in depth from a good academy/recruitment set up that they are not to be taken lightly even when missing a few “stars.”

However, Saints found themselves 6 points up after only a few minutes, Carlos Spencer kicking the first penalty and Bruce Reihana the second whilst Carlos was having treatment for an ankle injury which eventually led to Lossy leaving the pitch. It was a shame, as the Kiwi 10 had looked threatening in the early exchanges and his little chip through and catch was the type of tactic to put pressure on the Wasps rushing defence. He was replaced by virtual stranger Luke Myring who had a solid if unspectacular game with few errors.

Wasps were soon into their stride and from the restart after Saints second penalty worked their way upfield to pressurise the Saints line, Fraser Walters nipping through a gap in the centre to score by the posts. Van Gisbergen added the extra 2 points and Saints early lead disappeared after 13 minutes.

Three minutes later, Bruce added three points to the Saints score with a penalty and the visitors were showing some determination in subsequent attacks. Sadly, John Brooks, in charging forward in one foray in Wasps territory, took a blow to the head and left with concussion to be replaced by Tonga’uhia on 20 minutes.

Somewhat against the run of play on 26 minutes, Danny Cipriani broke through on the right wing to touch down for a try but after the man with the video machine had a good look at the grounding, it was decided that he hadn’t done the necessary. Saints then conceded 3 points from a penalty when they really should have been in control of the ball. Saints had kicked off deep into Wasps half and the home side won a penalty which they kicked to touch in the corner. However, everybody, except the touch judge, could see that it had gone for touch in goal. Fortunately, ref Dave Pearson had also seen the kick sailing past its target and overruled his colleague. From the next play however, Saints were pinged and the kick was easily taken by Van Gisbergen. 10 – 9 after 31 minutes.

Fortunately he missed another attempt minutes later from half way but after Saints attacked from the restart, Josh Lewsey was sin-binned and Bruce landed the kick from wide out on the right to bring the half time score to 10 – 12 to the visitors. Hope springs eternal?

For the second half, Wasps brought on Joe Worsley to bolster the back row and he very kindly dropped the restart kick from Saints! From the scrum, Myring fired a cross field kick to the right for Lamont and Cohen to do a reprise of their Bristol 1 : 2 which led to a try at the Memorial Ground but not today as Lamont failed to challenge for the catch and the chance went begging. Saints did take the subsequent line out catch but messed around with the maul and Wasps stole the ball to send Sackey over in the blink of an eye at the far end. The conversion went in off the post and then cross bar to put Saints on the back foot at 17 – 12.

Saints grabbed 3 points back immediately through another penalty taken by Bruce but as Wasps attacked Cohen was sin-binned for doing bad things at a maul and before you knew it, Cipriani was over for a try converted by Van Gisbergen. 24 – 15 after 11 minutes of the second half.

Oh dear, the Gold Black & Green supporters (in great voice all afternoon by the way) feared a drubbing if Wasps carried on like this. And a drubbing it did seem as Sackey went over for his second and the Wasps fourth try of the day. 29-15 now and gloom descended on the warmest day of the spring.

Bruce rallied the troops and Saints stepped up a gear. The pack kept it tight and drove at the home line. Dylan Hartley spotted that Sackey was infield off his wing and swept round behind the ruck to take Sharky’s pin point pass to score in the corner. Even better, Bruce slotted the kick from the touch line to bring the score to 29 – 22 after 18 minutes.

Dan Browne and Sharky were replaced by Christian Labit and Johnny Howard. Saints returned to threaten the Wasps line after a phenomenal touch kick from Ben Cohen rolled into touch just the right side of the right hand corner flag. Saints regained the ball and kept the pressure on the Wasps line, leading to Labit reaching over for another try 15 metres in from the left touch line. Bruce was distracted from the conversion by a cynical early charge by Lewsey, so that nice Mr Pearson let him have another go and the second attempt went through the posts to level the scores at 29 – 29 with 12 minutes to go. Was a miracle on the cards?

Sadly, no, as Wasps knew they had to win to improve their play off prospects and Saints did their chances no favours by pushing a restart kick dead, allowing Wasps pressure to win a penalty when Saints went over the top at a ruck. 32 – 29, 4 minutes to go.

Wasps then won another penalty and tapped to run. Saints tackled within 10 metres and this time Cipriani stepped up to take the kick and add another 3 points to Wasps score. 35 – 29 and now the question for Saints was whether they could hold on for a losing bonus point. Saints won ball at a scrum but blew possession and all Wasps had to do then was keep hold of the damn thing until the crowd and ref had counted down the final seconds.

Final score, Wasps 35, Saints 29 and a losing bonus point on an afternoon when many would have reckoned on nothing from Wasps, who always seem to finish the season strongly.

Saints, apart from occasional lapses in control, played well and my Man of the Match was Dylan Hartley, not just for his clever try but for getting around the paddock and up the noses of the opposing front row.

Would the single point be enough to avoid the drop? Part of the answer to that came three hours later when the result of London Irish v Worcester came through to the relief of Saints fans. Worcester had lost by 10 points and so the gap between Warriors and Saints has narrowed to just one point.

In two weeks time, Saints play London Irish at home for the most important game in the last 2 years. Irish have no particular targets to play for whereas Saracens, who go to Worcester at the same time, are seeking to consolidate a top four place for the play offs and are going to be throwing the kitchen sink at Worcester.

But then sport, like the bounce of a rugby ball, can break a man’s heart. Let’s hope that it isn’t our hearts breaking On Satuyday 28th come tea-time.

Teams:

Wasps: Van Gisbergen, Sackey, Waters, Waldouck, Lewsey, Cipriani, Reddan, Vickery, Ibanez, Bracken, Shaw, Palmer, Leo, O'Connor, Haskell

Replacements: Ward, Adams, Birkett, Worsley, Amor, Erinle, Walder

Wasps 35
Tries: Waters, Sackey 2, Cipriani
Cons: Van Gisbergen 3
Pens: Van Gisbergen 3

Northampton: Diggin, Lamont, Clarke, Reihana, Cohen, Spencer, Robinson, Smith, Hartley, Brooks, Damien Browne, Short, Tupai, Lewitt, Dan Browne

Replacements: Cortese, Tonga'uiha, Gerard, J. Howard, Myring, Mallon, Labit

Northampton  29
Tries: Labit, Hartley
Cons: Reihana 2
Pens: Spencer, Reihana 4