Melville grateful for win
October 28, 2001

London Wasps' 29-24 victory over Benetton Treviso - only their second of the season - was a significant point in their season according to director of rugby Nigel Melville.

And it owed much to a player who would not have been considered for the starting line-up had it not been for an injury to Scottish international Kenny Logan.

Logan's absence provided an opening on the wing for unknown 19-year-old Michael Roberts, a former England Under-18 player, and he seized his chance to score their opening try.

A smiling Melville said: "It is very significant, we just had to get a win somehow, somewhere.

"There's a lot of frustration when the calls go against you and you lose, this week they still went against us but we won.

"All I can do is to get on with my job."

After fly-half Alex King had opened the scoring with a penalty, the Italians levelled with a drop-goal from fly-half Francesco Mazzarol and then took the lead with two penalties from former Ireland full-back Simon Mason.

Roberts then intervened with his try and despite another Mason penalty, Wasps number eight Joe Worsley went over for a crucial second try which ultimately decided the game with penalties being traded in the second half.

Melville said that, with Logan injured, he had no alternative but to give Roberts a start.

"Michael Roberts is registered as a player, so this was a time to give him a chance," he said.

"Kenny Logan got dropped from Scotland and with the knee injury wouldn't have kicked today, so we said get it right."

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