Warriors ended their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign in disappointing fashion as Wasps full-back Marcus Watson masterminded his side’s victory with a second half hat-trick of tries at the Ricoh Arena.
Warriors were only two points adrift going into first half injury time. But they gave two penalties in a five minute period either side of the interval which allowed Billy Searle to stretch Wasps’ lead.
Watson’s sharp finishing then settled the issue as he completed his hat-trick in a devastating 20 minutes spell while all Warriors had to show for an afternoon of fruitless endeavour were two Duncan Weir penalties.
Warriors had hoped to make a fast start . Instead they instead found themselves behind after just two minutes when Wasps were awarded an early penalty which they kicked to the corner, won the lineout and rumbled hooker Tom Cruse over for an unconverted try.
Weir had the opportunity to reduce the deficit after 11 minutes but was off target with a penalty attempt although the Scotland international did find the target with a penalty from closer range seven minutes later.
Warriors worked tirelessly in defence to frustrate Wasps and with Melani Nanai a threat in attack they worked themselves into several promising positions.
But the patient approach work went unrewarded as the ball was knocked on in contact and an attacking five metre lineout was lost.
Instead it was Wasps who scored again with the final play of the first half when Warriors were penalised at a scrum and fly-half Searle banged over the penalty from near halfway.
Searle added another long range penalty four minutes into the second half after Warriors were penalised for a high tackle.
Worse was to follow two minutes later as Warriors went offside almost from the restart. Wasps kicked the penalty to Warriors’ 22, won the lineout and scrum-half Dan Robson put a clever grubber kick in behind the advancing defence which was snaffled by Watson.
Searle added the conversion but Warriors were still in the game when Weir landed a 49th minute penalty.
But Weir was off target with another penalty attempt and Watson snuffed out any thoughts Warriors had of finishing as strongly as they had at Bath by scoring his next two tries in the space of three minutes to complete his hat-trick and secure the bonus point.
Warriors emptied the bench in an attempt to introduce fresh legs and ideas but Wasps continue to capitalise on errors and Josh Bassett went over for the final try two minutes from time.
Warriors | 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys (Howe 75), 12 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir (Lance 52), 9 Francois Hougaard (Kitto 52), 1 Ethan Waller (Black 44), 2 Niall Annett (Miller 48), 3 Conor Carey (Palframan 41), 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Andrew Kitchener (G Kitchener 39), 6 Ted Hill, 7 Marco Mama (Lewis 14-22 & 61), 8 GJ van Velze (C).
Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Callum Black, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Tom Howe.
Timeline
2m | Cruse try 5-0
18m | Weir pen 5-3
40m | Searle pen 8-3
44m | Searle pen 11-3
47m | Watson try 16-3
48m | Searle con 18-3
49m | Weir pen 18-6
64m | Watson try 23-6
65m | Sopoaga con 25-6
67m | Watson try 30-6
68m | Sopoaga con 32-6
78m | Bassett try 37-6
79m | Sopoaga con 39-6