Rugby Union: Rees injury presents a sting in tail for Wasps

Wasps 18

Swansea 28

WASPS' LUCK continues to desert them. The so-called friendly Anglo-Welsh clash which neither the Welsh nor the English rugby unions care to sanction served up a cruel blow to the London side. Their fly-half and goal-kicker Gareth Rees was knocked out early in the second half and spent last night in hospital for tests and observation.

The Canadian captain, who led his country in the recent World Cup qualifying matches and has scored more than 550 points for Wasps in just over two seasons, will be out of action for at least three weeks after running into Swansea's Wales international back row forward Colin Charvis. As he went off on a stretcher any hopes Wasps had of winning went with him.

There was a major reshuffle of resources and positional switches which saw Scotland international wing Kenny Logan, who took over the goal-kicking duties like a veteran, landing a penalty and converting flanker Paul Volley's late try off the back of a scrum, moving to fullback. But as hard as they tried, the tactical nous and organisational skills of Rees were sorely missed.

There was plenty of evidence that this was anything but a friendly with tons of testosterone tanglings among the forwards to liven up a particularly poor first half. Referee David Price, who is not on the Welsh Rugby Union books, had his time taken up with talking and whistling rather than being able to concentrate on maintaining the flow of play.

A Logan try and Rees penalty had been countered by two penalties from fly-half Lee Davies before the interval, when Swansea were still getting their act together, but once the reigning Welsh League champions picked up the pace of the game they were away. They pounced on every Wasps error (and there were plenty of those throughout) and showed more enterprise and power, outscoring Wasps three tries to two.

Wasps: Tries: Logan, Volley; Conversions: Logan; Penalties: G Rees, Logan. Swansea: Tries: R Rees, Moriarty, Taylor; Conversions: L Davies 2; Penalties: L Davies 3.

Wasps: J Lewsey; S Roiser, L Scrase, R Henderson, K Logan; G Rees (M Wood, 52), A Gomarsall (N Greenstock, 66); D Molloy, D Macer (A Le Chevalier, 77), W Green (A Black, 80), M Weedon (capt), A Reed (S Shaw, 41), E Rollitt (S Tatupu, 41), J Worsley, P Volley.

Swansea: A Lawson; R Rees, M Taylor, M Back, S Davies; L Davies, A Booth (capt); D Morris, G Jenkins, B Evans, A Moore, T Maullin (P Arnold, 77), P Moriarty (L Jones, 73), C Charvis, D Thomas.

Referee: D Price (Caerphilly; not WRU).