Van Straaten saves Leeds

Wasps 27 Leeds 27

Leeds are making a habit of great escapes and thanks to the Dan Scarbrough-Braam Van Straaten combination they were at it again yesterday, salvaging a draw in the last seconds of a largely unedifying spectacle.

The excitement was confined to the final quarter of the game – as Leeds pressed hard to close the gap – with yet another match official managing to spoil things. None of the 4,475 spectators had come to Wycombe to listen to the referee Robin Goodliffe and his whistling, which ran to nearly 30 penalties, an incredible 20 of them against the home side.

Mr Goodliffe's performance drew harsh criticism from Warren Gatland, Wasps' director of rugby. "I thought it was a disgraceful display of refereeing. I was flabbergasted by some of the decisions," said the New Zealander. "As far as I am concerned it is not acceptable in the professional era. We are going to be making an official complaint."

Wasps themselves, though, could have few grumbles. Despite Mr Goodliffe's tiresome interruptions, at 20-6 ahead they appeared to have the game by the throat, before inexplicably relinquishing their grip.

Leeds, sensing a weakness, swooped. A trio of Van Straaten goal-kicks reduced home advantage. Then another disputed penalty by the Wasps five metre line saw them opt for the line-out. The excellent Chris Murphy took the ball at the front, slipped it to Mark Regan and the England hooker was driven over for his first try for Leeds.

That left 12 minutes for the visitors to draw level. Again it needed some pressure at the line-out before the ball was worked out to the prolific Dan Scarbrough, darting over the line for his seventh try of the season. With the seconds ticking away Van Straaten coolly landed the conversion to square the match.

Wasps must have been left bewildered and bemused, not to mention miserable. They had been cruising. Like Leeds they had benefited from Mr Goodliffe's propensity for blow rather than flow and Alex King had thumped over four penalties before half-time.

Kenny Logan had landed a long-range fifth, while Shane Roiser had burst through for their opening try after some great work by the tireless Paul Volley. Shortly after half-time, Rob Howley's long pass saw Phil Greening open up what remained of the Leeds defence and the hooker released Volley who crossed for the try.

Wasps: Tries Roiser, Volley; Conversion King; Penalties King 4, Logan. Leeds: Try Regan, Scarbrough; Penalties Van Straaten 5; Conversion: Van Straaten.

Wasps: J Lewsey; S Roiser, S Abbott, A Erinle (F Waters, 68), K Logan; A King, R Howley (capt); C Dowd (A McKenzie, 61), P Greening (T Leota, 61), W Green, S Shaw (J Beardshaw, 51), R Birkett, M Lock, P Scrivener, P Volley.

Leeds: D Scarbrough; C Hall, T Davies, G Harder, D Albanese; B Van Straaten, D Hegarty (A Dickens, 49); M Shelley (capt), R Rawlinson (M Regan, 49), G Kerr (M Holt, 49), C Murphy, T Palmer, C Mather (C Hogg, 49), A Popham, J Ponton.

Referee: R Goodliffe (Sheffield).