Premiership: Gloucester 27-21 Wasps – Louis Rees-Zammit scores solo attempt in comeback win

Gloucester scored 27 unanswered second-half factors to recuperate from 21-0 down and beat Wasps in a memorable Premiership comeback at Kingsholm.

The guests had two gamers within the sin-bin as Gloucester scored a penalty attempt to go 22-21 up, with Freddie Clarke going over for a bonus-point landing.

Charlie Atkinson, Brad Shields and Burger Odendaal had scored for Wasps.

There was a minute’s silence earlier than kick-off in reminiscence of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, whereas black armbands had been worn by each side.

Wasps – who’ve had well-publicised monetary issues over the summer time – performed all of the rugby within the first half, regardless of dropping Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi to damage early on.

Alfie Barbeary thought he had opened the scoring earlier than the tv match official (TMO) chalked it off for obstruction, however the wonderful Atkinson confirmed fast toes to dummy the Gloucester defence and cross underneath the posts.

Shields then went over following a unbelievable line-break from John Ryan and Wasps’ South African debutant Odendaal, who reduce by way of the house facet’s defence to place them 21-0 on the break – the primary time Gloucester had failed to attain within the first half at house since February 2020.

Wasps ought to have put the sport out of sight early within the second half however an error allowed Wales winger Rees-Zammit to dash clear, angling his run completely to repel the chasing Ali Crossdale for a world-class end.

The guests had been already starting to lose self-discipline by the point Tom Willis was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul, and shortly after Biyi Alo adopted him off for stopping a assured Gloucester attempt – additionally leading to seven factors for the Cherry and Whites.

Clarke’s close-range attempt was initially not given till the TMO confirmed the ball was grounded, and Gloucester efficiently defended the ultimate play to earn a seventh Premiership victory in eight over their opponents.

Gloucester head coach George Skivington instructed BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

“We had been off in that first half unquestionably, however we had been solely marginally off – Wasps had been superb.

“The rating was not flattering at half-time unquestionably, however really while you break down the play we had been just a bit bit off what we have tried to execute.

“Second half we received a little bit bit sharper and extra at peace with how we’re attempting to play.

[On Rees-Zammit] “He is particular from that perspective – he can produce one thing that may flip a recreation and generally you want that.”

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett instructed BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

“I assumed first half we had been fairly medical, our self-discipline was second to none and we regarded in full management – we managed every thing.

“Second half, exact opposite – I let you know what, when you purchased a ticket on one finish of the sector you bought your cash’s value, did not you.

“There have been loads of issues we have labored actually exhausting on and I assumed there have been some pleasing elements in it – we have not walked away with the win however now we have walked away with a degree.

“For the membership, after the negativity that is been across the final three or 4 months, it might’ve been nice to reward the assist we have had from our supporters.”

Gloucester: Evans; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Atkinson, Thorley; Hastings Chapman; Elrington, Singleton, Balmain, Clarke, Craig, Ackermann (capt), Taylor, Morgan.

Replacements: Socino, Rapava-Ruskin, Ford-Robinson, Jordan, Tuisue, Meehan, Twelvetrees, Moyle.

Wasps: Minozzi; Kibirige, Spink, Odendaal, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; Hislop, Cruse, Ryan, Launchbury (capt), McDonald, T Willis, Sheilds, Barbeary.

Replacements: Frost, Millar-Mills, Alo, Morris, J Willis, Porter, Mills, Crossdale.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe.