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Gopperth treble sends Wasps six points clear at the top
By Harry West
Jimmy Gopperth scored 25 points, including a hat-trick of tries, as Wasps earned themselves a six-point lead at the top of the Premiership with a win over Gloucester.
The centre went over for three of Wasps’ five scores at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday as the leaders sealed a maximum return with a 35-22 victory.
Gopperth went over twice in the first half, either side of James Hook’s converted score for Gloucester, as Wasps led 15-10 heading into the interval.
That was wiped out within four minutes of the restart, David Halaifonua touching down on the left, but Gloucester were not level for long as Willie le Roux celebrated his home debut with Wasps’ third.
Gopperth added the extras and then another penalty just after the hour, before a superb break from Tom Marshall sent in Matt Scott to reduce the arrears to 25-22 with nine minutes remaining.
But Gopperth was not done yet, once again going over at the back of a rolling maul before Christian Wade dived over on the right in the final moments.
75 mins: TRY WASPS! And that’s the bonus point try! Jimmy Gopperth at the back of that maul again and that’s his hattrick! 30-22
— Wasps (@WaspsRugby) February 26, 2017
FULLTIME: Wasps get the full five-point haul as they extend their lead at the top of the table with a 35-22 win over @gloucesterrugby! pic.twitter.com/zHIGpAD2De
— Wasps (@WaspsRugby) February 26, 2017
In Sunday’s other fixture, bottom club Bristol got just their third win of the season, 12-11 at home to Bath with all their points coming from the boot of former Bath man Gavin Henson.
The victory moves them to within two points of 11th-placed Worcester Warriors.
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