Edwards keeps quiet after Wasps dealt defeat by three yellow cards

Wyn Griffiths
Monday 28 February 2011 01:00 GMT
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Wasps coach Shaun Edwards declined to criticise Greg Garner after the referee showed three of his players yellow cards in the 26-15 Aviva Premiership home defeat by Saracens yesterday. But Edwards' reluctance to berate the official could not hide the frustration aired so forcibly by home fans after Garner sent Marty Veale, Tim Payne and John Hart to the sin-bin.

Wasps conceded 12 points while they were below strength and Edwards reacted to the yellow cards by saying: "Obviously they were costly – but did we deserve them? It will be much better for me to keep my thoughts to myself otherwise I'll get in a lot of trouble."

Edwards was less reluctant to talk about Wasps' failure to adapt to the conditions at rain-sodden Adams Park, where Saracens won for the first time in their eight visits.

Sarries' flanker Andy Saull scored the game's only try after three minutes and Edwards reflected: "We showed a lack of nous in those conditions which our opponents didn't. They were very smart and intelligent with their kicking game."

Bath assistant coach Martin Haag admitted his side had been pushed all the way by Exeter after their 12-9 win at Sandy Park. Olly Barkley's 15-metre penalty two minutes from time put Bath ahead for the first time, and they held on to become only the third team to win at Exeter this season.

Leicester and London Irish have beaten the Chiefs on home soil so far, and Haag said: "For us it was a great win though we had to dig it out at the end. We were pretty calm at half-time, the players knew exactly what they had to do."

London Irish coach Toby Booth was happy to see his side grind out a 15-9 win over Harlequins at the Madejski Stadium. Chris Malone kicked four penalties for Irish, with Tom Homer landing one, while Rory Clegg landed three for Quins. Both sides rarely threatened the tryline in a dour encounter but Booth had no complaints: "I'm delighted. Sure, it wasn't a good game to watch but I'm really not bothered about that as it is all about picking up four points."

Wing Jonny May grabbed two tries to inspire Gloucester to their fourth straight victory, and their eighth in a row in all competitions, at Northampton.

Fly-half Nicky Robinson kicked two penalties and a conversion to help secure the tight win, which consigned the Saints to their fifth league loss in succession, their worst run since the 2005-06 season.

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