Rugby Union: DEADLY WASPS REALLY BUZZING

WASPS played the party-poopers to ruin Sale's last game at Heywood Road after 98 years.

The win took the Londoners' winning sequence to 10-games and ensures a Championship play-off place.

In the first-half Wasps were technically impressive and in the second they defended well as Sale rallied.

Coach Warren Gatland, was delighted with the performance.

He said: "I was frustrated at half-time because I felt the game should have been well and truly over.

"We blew three or four relatively good scoring chances. We tend to play in phases.

"If we could put 80 minutes together, we could destroy a side."

Jim Mallinder, Sale's head coach, praised Wasps saying: "They are a very good side.

"They have a big, physical pack and they put us under a lot of pressure in the first-half."

This was Sale's last game at Heywood Road. They announced on Friday that they are moving to Stockport County's 11,000-capacity Edgeley Park Stadium - but it proved an anti-climax for the home side.

With England's Charlie Hodgson injured, Sale were without a recognised goal-kicker but stand-in Jos Baxendell did well to land three penalties.

Sale could also draw consolation from some resolute defending, which restricted dominant Wasps to a four-point lead at the break. The visitors were camped in the Sale half for much of the first-half and Gatland was frustrated that they collected only one try for their efforts.

England number eight Lawrence Dallaglio set off on a powerful run leaving defenders Baxendell and Graeme Bond trailing in his wake.

When he was eventually brought down after making valuable yardage, Alec King took the ball on before releasing former Welsh scrum-half Rob Howley for the score.

King, leading goal-scorer this season with 138 points, kicked the conversion and landed three penalties for an 11-point haul.

There was frequent niggle between the two sides and Dallaglio was fortunate to stay on the field after tangling with Sale scrum-half Bryan Redpath, whom he prevented taking a quick tap penalty.

Sale had a better second-half but found the Wasps' defence equal to the task and, while they were able to enjoy territorial advantage, their try-scoring opportunities were largely snuffed out.

Their best effort fell to back-row Stuart Pinkerton - but he knocked on over the line.

It was the closest Sale came

to a try all match. SALEPens: Baxendell 3. WASPS Tries: Howley. Cons: A. King. Pens: A. King 3.

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