London Wasps 5 Twickenham 55 All season Twickenham have been threatening to mount a big score and, having controlled their tendency to drop crucial passes, their time came in this Middlesex Cup quarter-final, with the hapless Wasps on the receiving end, writes John Samuels.

Near perfect conditions of bright sunshine and little wind, a lovely flat pitch and a sympathetic referee, were the ingredients that galvanised T's into a superlative first half performance. It was not any real weakness on the part of their opponents, who played with spirit throughout, but rather that T's hardly put a foot wrong.

Altogether six tries came in the first half, the first was from a rolling maul after a clean catch in the line by Jeremy Davies, who was in outstanding catching form all afternoon. The touchdown came from 19-year-old flanker, Frost, who had a grand game until an injury forced him to retire at half-time.

The other tries of the half came from flying winger Leon John with two, fly half Kevin Hughes, captain Joe Foley and debutant full back Andy Mullins. Hughes converted three of the tries for an interval score of 36-0.

Wasps had more of the ball in the second half, but although they made a number of very strong attacking moves, the T's defence was solid. The only score for the home side was developed from a lineout ploy where a quick, short throw-in left Twickenham standing.

With Peter Goff playing the role of Director General from No 8, T's ran in three tries. They were all scored on the left wing by Tom Howden and two were converted by John.

All round it was a marvellous exhibition by Twickenham, though the final scoreline of 55-5 did not reflect the fact that Wasps had played some good rugby and never stopped trying.

If T's could reproduce this level of play this week, when they are away to promotion contenders Southend in London 2 North league, they have a real chance of causing an upset. Similarly, it is to be hoped that they will continue in this vein in the semi-final of the Cup in a month's time, when they will be home to the winners of London Nigerians and Harlequins.

Twickenham: Mullins, John, Foley, Guyett, Howden, Hughes, Peters (Stone 60), Burt (Kerslake 75), Tytherleigh, Griggs, Bowden, Davies, Walker, Goff, Frost (Stewart 40).