Dallaglio's Delight As Wasps Get Revenge

On Sunday at Loftus Road they knocked Harlequins out of the Tetley's Bitter Cup, a result that not only reversed the 53-17 rout suffered at The Stoop last month, but ends a cup jinx that has seen them lose four previous cup encounters with their bitterest rivals. They are home to Fylde in the fifth round during the weekend of January 24/25.

As cup ties go, this was as full-blooded as they get and the crowd of just under 4,000 were well rewarded for venturing from their firesides on such an awful afternoon.

The tackling and commitment was abrasive to say the least and it was amazing that only one player was booked.

The visitors made a lively start; good driving and mauling by their forwards putting pressure on the Wasps' line.

A Thierry Lacroix penalty on 12 minutes opened the scoring but Wasps, inspired by skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, were now getting plenty of possession and probing the Quins defence.

A well-worked try from Damien Cronin set them on the way. Dallaglio's crushing run through the middle began the move and the ball was moved swiftly from right to left before the big lock popped up on the wing to score unopposed.

Gareth Rees landed his first penalty and soon after the champions went further ahead.

Lacroix attempted a long pass which dropped into the arms of Laurence Scrase. The centre ran 50 yards to score under the posts and Rees converted.

Before half-time Quins were well back in the hunt. Slack tackling allowed winger Jamie Williams to get a first try and Lacroix landed a second penalty. It was the men from The Stoop who were again fastest off the blocks when the game restarted.

Scott Stewart grabbed a second try and they would have been in front if a conversion and earlier drop goal attempt by Lacroix had not bounced off the woodwork.

Rees, kicking cannily in tough conditions, kept Wasps' noses in front, but Williams's second try brought the scores to 21-21 and the game was definitely on.

To Wasps' credit, they went up a gear. Scrum-half Mike Friday started to make some incisive runs and Quins were put on the rack. Peter Scrivener and Simon Shaw crashed against the defensive walls and after a series of penalties which Dallaglio elected to run, Rees was called up to kick his fourth penalty.

The siege continued and eventually Buster White crept around the blindside and stretched just enough to satisfy referee Tony Spreadbury. Rees's superb conversion from the touchline put them ten points in front and victory was in sight.

It was no relaxing cruise to the finishing line, however, as Harlequins threw everything to try to retrieve the game. Scrivener in particular put in some crucial tackles and must have run his skipper close for the Man of the Match award. Williams went on to complete his hat-trick, but time had run out.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.