London Wasps 37 – 10 Newport Gwent Dragons
A powerful first half display gave the Dragons a chance at Adams Park, but a clinical second forty minutes from former European Champions London Wasps blew the Welsh side away.
The Dragons played most of the rugby during the opening exchanges and deserved more than a 3-3 half time score line.
But once Dave Walder kicked his second penalty just a minute into the second half there was no looking back for Wasps.
Jinking runs from the scrum half Joe Simpson put Wasps on the front foot and he then linked up with his half-back partner Walder to set up the first try.
Walder made his way through a crowded midfield and took his troops up to the Dragons twenty-two. The ball was spread wide one way and then brought back across field before Joe Ward powered his way over.
Walder was on target with the conversion and then kicked along range penalty to give his side a 13-point lead.
With their tails up Wasps looked like a changed side and Mark van Gisbergen and then Tom Varndell both crossed for well worked converted tries.
With a 27-point lead the hosts went hunting for a try-bonus point and it wasn’t long until they wrapped it up. A powerful scrum gave Number 8 Will Matthews time at the base and he simply offloaded to replacement scrum-half Nic Berry who crashed over. The additional two points were routine for Walder.
Aled Brew scored a late consolation which was converted by Matthew Jones.
