REPORT: Wasps 31-17 Bristol United

Monday, January 4th 2016

Bristol United suffered a 31-17 defeat to Wasps in the Aviva A-League on Monday.

Ryan Edwards and Auguy Slowik posted second half tries during a spirited contest at Maidenhead RFC.

United started brightly and, after soaking up some early pressure, could have gone in front when George Watkins and Ryan Edwards came close to touching down.

Tom Bristow saw yellow for Wasps inside the opening quarter, but it was the home side who took the lead when the ever-threatening James Downey broke clear before feeding Brendan Macken to touch down for a converted try.

Jack Wallis rumbled over from a driving lineout to put Wasps 12-0 up, before Callum Sheedy’s penalty goal got Bristol United on the board before the interval.

After the break, Willis added a second try when the flanker crossed from five metres, while Alex Rieder put the hosts in full control when his converted try handed Wasps a 26-3 advantage.

And the back rower completed his hat-trick on the hour mark – dotting down for a converted try – as Bristol United fell further behind during a one-sided second half.

But Ryan Edwards’ well-worked try gave the visitors hope, while Auguy Slowik’s stunning solo effort ensured Bristol United’s late revival continued.

However, despite a late Darren Hudson half-break, the visitors couldn’t add to their points tally as Wasps ran out victors.

Wasps:

Piers O'Conor; Sailosi Tagicakibau, Brendan Macken, James Downey, Josh Bassett; Connor Eastgate, Jamie Stevenson; Tom Bristow, George Edgson, Will Stuart, James Cannon (c), Jack Holford, Alex Rieder, Jack Willis, Guy Thompson.

Replacements: Lewis Grinsell, Tom West, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Jacob Turner, Will Porter, Conor Dolan, Owain James.

Bristol United:

Auguy Slowik; George Watkins, Tommaso Benvenuti, Nick Carpenter (c), Ryan Edwards; Callum Sheedy, Craig Hampson; Kyle Traynor, Chris Brooker, Gaston Cortes, Adam Sinclair (trialist), John Hawkins, Sam Jeffries (Bristol Uni), Max Crumpton, Josh Ovens.

Replacements: James Stephenson, Jamal Ford-Robinson, David Spellman (Cambridge Uni), Jack Capon (Academy U18s), Jack Davies (Bath Uni), Josh Barton (Academy U18s), Sam Katz, Darren Hudson.