Premiership: Wasps 44-8 Bristol Bears - Ali Crossdale double on debut sets up win for hosts

Ali Crossdale joined Wasps this season from Saracens and crossed twice in the first 35 minutes of his debut

Tries from debutants Ali Crossdale and Nick Frost helped Wasps kick off their season with victory over Bristol.

Crossdale's two first-half tries, either side of Max Lahiff's score, gave Wasps a 16-8 half-time lead.

Brad Shields extended the lead while Bears had a reply from Daniel Thomas chalked off by the TMO before Frost raced in for Wasps' bonus-point try.

Shields was sent off for a second yellow card, but Zach Willis and Kibirige added two late tries.

Wasps kicked off their Premiership campaign a week late, but were without skipper Joe Launchbury - among 11 injured - while last season's table toppers Bristol were missing six players as they sought a first win - and first try - after an opening weekend defeat by Saracens.

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Callum Sheedy's penalty gave Bristol the first points, but Wasps were rewarded for a spell of concerted pressure when Malakai Fekitoa's slick offload gave full-back Crossland - one of four Wasps debutants - a run to the corner for a try

Jacob Umaga's penalty extended the lead to 8-3, but after snubbing three simple kicks at goal for the lineout and falling short, the Bears finally levelled when Lahiff crashed over for his first try for the club.

Parity was short-lived however as Umaga slotted his second kick at goal before Crossdale's dream debut got even better with a second try, as a break from Willis freed up space on the right flank for the 23-year-old full-back.

Wasps were good value for their lead at the interval and kept up the momentum after the break, forcing the Bears back and quickly adding a third try as Shields crashed over from close range after Bears turned over a scrum close to the line.

Bears badly needed the next score and thought they had it when Thomas touched down, but the try was chalked off by the TMO because of an infringement from full-back Piers O'Connor.

Dan Frost capitalised on a turnover to race in from distance to seal the try bonus-point for Wasps who were then reduced to 14 with 11 minutes left when Shields saw yellow for a second time as Bears pressed for the line.

Will Capon looked to have burrowed over from short range, but the Bears were left disappointed by the TMO again, and their miserable afternoon was capped when Willis and Kibirige were allowed to race away for two last-gasp scores.

It was an encouraging start for the Wasps, but a chastening afternoon for Pat Lam's side who have gone scoreless in both of their matches this season.

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett:

"I think the way we held them out at times was outstanding. It's something we've worked hard on with Matt Everard, our defence coach.

"We gave too many penalties away, but our resilience close to the line was the most pleasing thing.

"It would have been easy as well, with the scoreline towards the end, to fold over close to our line, but that's not what we're about.

"Whenever you're coming up against Bristol, you know how dangerous they are and you know that, defensively, you've got to be at your best."

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam:

"We've been in this situation many times. The Premiership is all about 24 rounds now - points are on offer every time and once you don't get them, you learn and we move on to the next round.

"We didn't perform like we wanted to, we turned the ball over too many times.

"We've had opportunities in both games, all winnable, but we are our own worst enemies; we're making errors at key moments.

"Our game plan creates opportunities, but at the end of the day, players will make mistakes. That's how they will learn."

Wasps: Crossdale; Watson, Fekitoa, Le Bourgeois, Bassett; Umaga, Robson; Hislop, Cruse, Toomaga-Allen, Fifita, Stooke, Shields (capt), Oghre, T Willis.

Replacements: Frost, Harris, Alo, Cardall, Morris, Porter, Gopperth, Kibirige.

Sin-bin: Shields (26 mins).

Bristol: C Piutau; Adeolokun, O'Conor, Leiua, Lloyd; Sheedy, Uren; Y Thomas, Thacker, Lahiff, Attwood, Vui, Luatua (capt), D Thomas, Hughes.

Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Armstrong, Holmes, Heenan, Randall, Bedlow, Purdy.

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU).

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