Odogwu steals it for Wasps in red zone

By MIKE SINCLAIR

Exeter …………….26pts

Tries: O’Flaherty 15, Pearson 27, Innard 38, Capstick 44

Conversions: J Simmonds 15, 27, 38

Wasps …………….27pts

Tries: Odogwu 5, 80+6, Launchbury 50, Barbeary 78

Conversions: Gopperth 50, 78

Penalty: Gopperth 25

PAOLO Odogwu’s second try, with the clock six minutes into the red, enabled Wasps to escape an ambush at the hands of an unfamiliar, muchchanged but hugely-spirited Exeter side.

Injuries and international calls forced Chiefs boss Rob Baxter, who said he was “immensely proud” of his young battlers, to call up the kids but, despite leading by 11 points with two minutes left on the regular clock, they finally succumbed to Wasps’ desperate last throw of the dice.

“It feels tough because we lost late in the game but we challenged Wasps in pretty much every area,” said Baxter.

Alfie Barbeary’s 78thminute try following a catch and drive set up a grandstand finish which saw Wasps pound the Exeter line until – 35 phases later – Odogwu dived over in the righthand corner to snatch what for most of the afternoon had looked a most unlikely victory.

Already depleted Exeter suffered another pack blow when illness forced flanker Dave Ewers out.

Lewis Pearson came in with James Kenny’s call meaning that the Chiefs had three props and two hookers on the bench.

But they stuck with the “Exeter way” rejecting the chance of three early points by kicking for the corner, only for Brad Shields to disrupt their lineout.

Wasps burst out of defence with Tom Cruse making ground before Odogwu worked a onetwo with Charlie Atkinson before diving over in the corner.

Exeter responded with a much-improved second penalty foray to the right corner, but prop Alec Hepburn, back from his three-match suspension, had a try disallowed.

Hepburn bounced out of one tackle and crossed with Biyi Alo hanging on to him but Wayne Barnes‘ on-field decision was “no try” and several replay viewings failed to provide him with evidence of a grounding.

It fired up the Chiefs whose wingers were proving a huge threat through the middle as they came off and Olly Woodburn flicked the ball up for Tom O’Flaherty to touch down near the posts, leaving Joe Simmonds an easy conversion.

Gopperth’s penalty gave Wasps a one-point lead but, for a second time, O’Flaherty was first to Simmonds’ kickoff, the visitors failed to hold Sam Maunder and he released Pearson on a clear run to the line.

Then, following a powerful run by Woodburn, O’Flaherty created the space to send hooker Jack Innard over and Simmonds’ third conversion extended the lead to 21-8.

Exeter secured their bonus point try four minutes into the second half following a slick lineout move. Innard and Woodburn were stopped but Richard Capstick squeezed over.

Skipper Joe Launchbury burrowed in for Wasps’ second try, converted by Gopperth, and although the Chiefs’ youthful enthusiasm cost them several close-range penalties, they continued to defend strongly.

Surviving the initial onslaught, Exeter had another try disallowed when referee Barnes ruled Tom Hendrickson had not grounded the ball properly before Wasps embarked on the ultimately successful final onslaught to snatch only their second victory in 15 visits to Sandy Park.