Wasps rally in style

European champions Wasps produced a stunning late fight back to snatch a 29-26 EDF Energy Cup victory over Gloucester on Sunday.

The Londoners found themselves 26-8 down with 65 minutes on the clock, but stormed back with three late converted tries to steal a memorable triumph at Adams Park.

The hosts were transformed by a number of second-half replacements including James Haskell who scored two tries and French World Cup skipper Raphael Ibanez.

In the end it was another substitute, John Hart, who proved the match-winner as he powered over with just a couple of minutes left on the clock to clinch the win.

Gloucester had made much the better start to the game and were ahead as early as the fourth minute when scrum-half Rory Lawson's dummy saw him fool the home defence to scamper over for the first try of the afternoon.

Forward domination

With the visitors' forwards dominating, a second arrived just past the half-hour mark with Frenchman Olivier Azam bulldozing his way over - Ryan Lamb's second successful conversion stretching the lead to 14-0.

A penalty from Danny Cipriani ensured Wasps were on the board before the interval, although home fans were less than impressed that referee Wayne Barnes whistled for a penalty rather than allow Tom Voyce an advantage that could well have resulted in a try.

As it was, though, the Londoners looked dead and buried early in the second period as, following a powerful burst from number eight Luke Narraway, Gloucester, courtesy of Lamb and James Simpson-Daniel, moved the ball out wide for full back Olly Morgan to touch down in the corner - Lamb again converting.

Wasps did respond when Voyce got the better of Simpson-Daniel to crash over for his side's first try, but Gloucester seemed to have ended the game as a contest with their fourth score of the afternoon as Iain Balshaw crossed the whitewash on the hour mark.

But the sin-binning of Gloucester's Peter Buxton 12 minutes from time proved crucial, allowing Wasps, for whom Haskell had already bagged his first try, to build up a head of steam.

With Haskell scoring again just five minutes later the impossible was on as Cipriani landed both conversions and the most pulsating of climaxes duly arrived as Hart forced his way over with Cipriani again adding the extras.

Their bonus-point victory puts them level at the top of Pool A with Newcastle Falcons, with the group decider to be played at Wasps' Adams Park Ground on the last weekend in November.