Reihana adds to Wasps' woes
Wasps crashed to their third consecutive defeat of the season as Bruce Reihana inspired newly-promoted Northampton to a 24-20 win.
Last Updated: 20/09/08 6:48pm
Guinness Premiership champions Wasps crashed to their third consecutive defeat of the season as Bruce Reihana inspired newly-promoted Northampton to a 24-20 win at Franklin's Gardens.
The Saints full-back bagged 17 points in front of an ecstatic home crowd after Wasps had gifted their opponents a flurry of points.
First-half fumbles from England international Josh Lewsey handed both opposite number Reihana and winger Chris Ashton easy tries.
Wasps themselves benefited from Reihana's wayward kicking as the full-back missed three penalties to leave the match perfectly poised at 14-14 heading into the second half.
The match remained on a knife edge until wing Sean Lamont went over 12 minutes from time to leave several unanswered questions at Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan's door.
Despite the contribution of Reihana, the game was won in the pack where the outstanding Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe outmuscled the Wasps forwards.
Penalised
In front of a sell-out crowd, the hosts made the perfect start in the opening minute when Lewsey's clearing kick was charged down by Reihana, who gleefully gathered up the loose ball to touch down before converting.
Dave Walder pulled three points back for Wasps on eight minutes, kicking a penalty from just outside the Saints 22 after they were penalised for not releasing.
Two minutes later, Wasps went in front when a quick passing move from a line-out on the far side ended with Dominic Waldouck going over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Saints flanker Scott Gray was then caught offside by referee Chris White on 20 minutes, resulting in Walder kicking three points before Reihana missed a penalty from the touchline.
But Northampton retook the lead when Lewsey dropped Carlos Spencer's kick, and Ashton, who grabbed 39 tries in National One, ran in under the posts for his first score in the Premiership.
Electric atmosphere
On 32 minutes former All Black Reihana hit the upright from a penalty from long-range, before missing one from a similar distance two minutes later.
And Walder showed him how to do it with a textbook strike right on the stroke of half time.
Northampton moved three points ahead just after the restart when Reihana kicked a close-range penalty only for Walder to immediately haul them level.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men on 48 minutes when Rob Webber and Dylan Hartley were sent to the sin bin for using their knees on each other in the tackle.
In an electric atmosphere, both Reihana and Walder missed a penalty apiece before the Wasps fly-half notched three points from just inside his own half to make 20-17.
But on 68 minutes replacement Stephen Myler's long, cut out pass to the left wing found Lamont who went over with Myler converting from out wide.
