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Rugby Union

Vainikolo try helps Gloucester past Wasps in EDF cup

04/10/2008

Lesley Vainikolo was on the scoresheet for Gloucester as they added to Wasps miserable start to the season with a 24-19 win in the EDF Energy Cup.

Full-back Willie Walker scored three penalties and a conversion to condemn Wasps to their fifth defeat in six games in all competitions so far this season.

Veteran scrum-half Mark Robinson put Wasps ahead with a try in the corner but a Walker penalty and a Ryan Lamb drop-goal put Gloucester in the lead.

Lamb then created Vianikolo's try when he chipped into the corner and the winger was on hand to touch the ball down.

Jeremy Staunton reduced the deficit to 14-8 and a try from James Haskell immediately before half-time cut the deficit further to one point.

However, from there Gloucester took full control of the match. Lamb's long pass found Vianikolo in space and he rampaged up the right flank, eventually handing the ball off to Walker for a simple score.

The full-back added the conversion and a further two penalties to keep Gloucester ahead and although Staunton and late substitute Dave Walder got a penalty each for Wasps they never looked like mounting a serious comeback.

In pool B of the competition Leicester beat Bath 15-19 at the Recreation Ground as both teams fielded line-ups with a lot of star names missing.

Andrew Higgins scored two tries for Bath but Leicester's South African fly-half Derick Hougaard kicked 11 points on his club debut to help give the Tigers a narrow win.

In the same pool Cardiff Blues beat Sale Sharks 19-18 thanks to a last-minute try by Richard Mustoe. Four penalties by Sale's Nick Macleod looked to have won the game for Sale until Mustoe's timely score.

Elsewhere, Northampton comprehensively beat Bristol 30-17 thanks to tries from Paul Diggin, Lee Dickson, Chris Ashton and Chris Mayor.