LONDON IRISH made it three wins on the spin by thrashing Wasps in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Madejski Stadium this afternoon.
Fresh from back-to-back wins over Krasny Yar, Nick Kennedy named a strong side to try and continue building momentum while Wasps opted to give an opportunity to a number of their younger players.
And it proved to be a one-sided affair with Alex Lewington, Scott Steele, Joe Cokanasiga and James Marshall tries putting the hosts 33-7 ahead at the break.
There was no let-up after the restart either with replacements Saia Fainga’a, Aseli Tikoirotuma and debutant Piet van Zyl getting in on the act while Cokanasiga scored twice more to complete his hat-trick to clinch a 66-7 victory.
The Exiles asserted their authority as early as the second minute when Lewington, who has agreed a deal to join Saracens at the end of the season, latched onto a pass from debutant Arno Botha to burst down the flank and score.
Blair Cowan, making his 100th London Irish appearance, came close to a second try but knocked on at the vital moment.
But the Exiles did move 12-0 ahead on 21 minutes when a line-out drive made up ground before the ball was spun to Johnny Williams. The centre was halted but Steele nipped in to dab down.
Wasps pulled a try back when the ball was worked well to Nick Foster out wide, but Irish pulled well clear before the break with three tries in 10 minutes.
Cokanasiga scored the first, using his brute force to shove off his marker and cruise across the line before the bonus point was secured when Hoskins crashed over after Theo Brophy Clews had come up just short.
And the hosts led 33-7 at the break when Marshall went over in the corner and converted from out wide.
Piet van Zyl was handed a debut at half-time, replacing Steele while Max Northcote-Green also came into the action with powerful Ofisa Treviranus withdrawn.
Wasps began the second half well, penning Irish back inside their own 22, but the Exiles defence held firm to keep them at bay.
And after soaking up the pressure, the free-flowing rugby began to return.
With all eight Irish replacements made before the hour mark, two of those crossed the whitewash with Fainga’a finding a gap from close range before van Zyl marked his debut by bursting through unmarked to score.
And there was time for more as Cokanasiga burst through out of nowhere to bag his second try of the afternoon.
Tikoirotuma then crossed the whitewash after a charge down the right before Cokanasiga completed a hat-trick with Irish’s 10th try of the day.
The win leaves the Exiles third in their group with a final game to come away to Cardiff Blues on Friday night, where victory could send them into the semi-finals.
LONDON IRISH: Marshall (Bell 58), Cokanasiga, Fowlie, J. Williams, Lewington (Tikoirotuma 58), Brophy Clews, Steele (van Zyl 40), Franks (Fainga’a 52), Paice (Elrington 52), Hoskins (Du Plessis 52), van der Merwe, Coman (c), Botha (De Chaves 52), Cowan, Treviranus (Northcote-Green 40).
Tries: Lewington (2), Steele (21), Cokanasiga x3 (30,72,79), Hoskins (34), Marshall (40), Fainga’a (56), van Zyl (60), Tikoirotuma (77)
Cons: Marshall x5 (22,31,35,40+1,56), Bell x3 (60,78,80)
WASPS: Foster (Eastgate 62), Atta, Macken, Spink (Anderson 55), James, Umaga, Hampson (Nott 71), West (Harris 51), Oghre (Thornton 51), Stuart (Higgins 71), Cardall, Borrowdale (Gray 65), Owen, Seabrook (Saull 51), Willis (c).
Tries: Foster (26)
Cons: Umaga (28)
Scoring sequence (Irish first): 5-0, 10-0, 12-0, 12-5, 12-7, 17-7, 19-7, 24-7, 26-7, 31-7, 33-7, 38-7, 40-7, 45-7, 47-7, 52-7, 57-7, 59-7, 64-7, 66-7.
Referee: Matthew O’Grady
Attendance: 4,598
