Summary

  • Foden, Waller and North score first-half tries for Saints

  • Daly try and Gopperth penalties for Wasps before break

  • Wade and Simpson tries give hosts lead in second half

  • Tuala and Harrison tries restore Saints' lead

  • Doran Jones scores last-minute try to win it for Wasps

  • FT: Wasps 32-30 Northampton

  1. Enjoy the rest of your day . . .published at 17:11 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 32-30 Northampton

    That concludes the entertainment from Coventry for the afternoon.

    Time to go and get your breath back and, for some of us, go and find a cool, quiet corner to lie down.

  2. Wasps dig deep to stay on trackpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 32-30 Northampton

    Wasps sure made hard work of it on an unseasonally hot day at the Ricoh Arena - but they kept their cool to come up with a last-minute matchwinner.

    It may actually have been more than they deserved. In a game of nine tries, they were outscored on the try front at least by Northampton Saints. And, but for Stephen Myler's for-once errant kicking (four missed conversions and a missed penalty), they would have lost.

    But Wasps' bid for top spot - and a first Premiership title in 12 years - somehow stayed on course as that crucial late fourth try secured the bonus-point win which keeps second-placed Exeter and third-placed Saracens at bay for now.

  3. Full-timepublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 32-30 Northampton

    Wasps stay top - and Matt Mullan's try is their fourth, so an extra bonus point lifts them back to five points ahead of Exeter and six clear of third-placed Saracens with three games left.

  4. converted try

    Converted try (Mullan/Gopperth)published at 80 mins

    Wasps 32-30 Northampton

    Wasps steal it at the death.

    And an unlikely scorer too . . . hooker Matt Mullan levels the scores.

    Jimmy Gopperth adds the points and Saints are devastated.  

    Prop Paul Doran Jones, who signed this week on a one-week loan, was also credited with the try after it had initially been awarded to Mullan. But, after much confusion, both over the tannoy and on Twitter, the try was, eventually, officially the property of the proud Mullan - who doesn't get many!

  5. Sin-binpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    After a close escape a minute earlier, Jamie Gibson is yellow carded.

    Saints a man short.

  6. Final assaultpublished at 80 mins

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    Wasps camped on the opposition line.

  7. Not over yet!published at 77 mins

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    Wasps on the charge. And they have a penalty coming. This contest is not over yet!

  8. Try number four for Saintspublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    Ahsee TualaImage source, Rex Features

    Ahsee Tuala's try is one of eight seen so far at the Ricoh this afternoon. Will it prove the difference between the two sides? 

  9. Heated words at the Ricohpublished at 72 mins

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    It's taken a long time to boil over on this hot afternoon - but finally tempers flare with a 'frank exchange of views' between various members of the two sides as Wasps' home record is put on the line in the final 10 minutes.

  10. Penaltypublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    The try is rightly ruled out for obstruction, as Luther Burrell's attempt to tackle Kurtley Beale before his scoring pass is blocked off by Joe Launchbury.

  11. Try reviewpublished at 70 mins

    Wasps 25-30

    Willie Le Roux may have scored in the left corner for Wasps. But it is disallowed after a quick look upstairs.

  12. converted try

    Converted try (Harrison/Myler)published at 68 mins

    Wasps 25-30 Northampton

    Saints are back in the lead with their fifth try of the day, from Teimana Harrison, Stephen Myler converting from in front of the posts. That is now 22 tries shipped by the league leaders in their last six Premiership games.

  13. Home record under threatpublished at 65 mins

    Wasps 25-23 Northampton

    This has been one of Wasps' tougher tests of the season - and their long proud home record, an unbeaten home run stretching back 16 months, is still under threat.

  14. try

    Try (Tuala)published at 60 mins

    Wasps 25-23 Northampton

    Bonus point for Northampton as they quieten the crowd again with their fourth try of this hot afternoon. Louis Picamoles goes left from a scrum in front of the posts, George North feeds Ahsee Tuala and the full-back crosses with ease. But, for the fifth time today, they miss the kick.  

    An hour gone in this contest - and still it could go either way.

  15. Time for Cipriani?published at 16:20 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 25-18 Northampton

    Chris Jones
    BBC Radio 5 live at the Ricoh Arena

    "When the likes of Beale, Wade, and Le Roux are working with front foot ball, Wasps play some sublime rugby.

    "Will Dai Young look to use Danny Cipriani from the bench soon?"

  16. try

    Try (Simpson)published at 51 mins

    Wasps 25-18 Northampton

    Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson goes in at the left corner, after Nathan Hughes had been stopped just short. 

    Jimmy Gopperth misses with the conversion attempt to leave the visitors still within one score of Wasps.

    Simpson has gone off for a possible concussion assessment after a blow to the head in scoring - and is replaced by Dan Robson.

    Three tries each now, Wasps leading purely on the basis of their greater success today from the kicking tee.

  17. Wade again shows his promisepublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    
          Christian Wade of Wasps challenged by Dylan Hartley of Northampton Saints
        Image source, Rex Features

    Christian Wade was already the Premiership's try scorer this season before today's game. He now has 15 tries to his name, but no place in the England squad.

    Are you watching Eddie Jones?

  18. Wasps lead for first timepublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 20-18 Northampton

    Jimmy Gopperth adds the extras to Wade's try and Wasps are now ahead for the first time in the contest. 

    But one sour note for the hosts. Johnson appears to have injured himself and both he and his unmistakable barnet have departed the fray.

  19. try

    Try (Wade)published at 44 mins

    Wasps 18-18 Northampton

    Christian Wade's 15th Premiership try of the season.

    Ashley Johnson's burst down the middle set up the initial attacking platform.

    But, when the ball was switched to the right, Wade chips over the top, the bounce just about goes his way and he brings it down to score.

  20. Back underway at the Ricohpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 9 April 2017

    Wasps 13-18 Northampton

    Only Exeter have led here at half-time this season. They did not hang on that day. Can the Saints?