Wasps recorded their second win of the season with victory over Italian side Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup at Loftus Road.

The home side, struggling at the bottom of the Zurich Premiership, opened the scoring with a long-range penalty from fly-half Alex King in the third minute.

It was a short-lived advantage as the Italians levelled with a drop-goal from fly half Francesco Mazzarol and then former Ireland full back Simon Mason gave them the lead with his first of seven penalties.

However, Melville's men fought back bravely and, in a mad scramble, newcomer Michael Roberts - standing in for Scottish international Kenny Logan - went over for the first try in the 25th minute. King converted.

Mason kicked another penalty in the 34th minute to put Treviso back in front, but a minute later King struck one through the uprights to put the home side ahead by one point.

A brilliant run in the 44th minute saw Wasps number eight Joe Worsley score a magnificent try converted by King, but four minutes later Mason kicked another penalty.

Although neither side has any realistic chance of advancing beyond the group stage, both sensed this was their best chance of a victory and tempers flared as they searched for it.

French referee Gerard Borreami struggled to keep a lid on things as tempers repeatedly flared.

King and Mason continued to kick penalties, with Wasps clinging desperately to their slight advantage.

Melville's men held out but a five-point home win over an Italian side that has conceded an average of almost 40 points a game in their previous outings will give the Wasps coach little comfort.

Wasps: Tries: Roberts, Worsley. Cons: A. King 2. Pens: A. King 5.

Treviso: Pens: Mason 7. Drop Goals: Mazzariol.

Att: 3,700.

Wasps: Sampson, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Roberts, A. King, Wood, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Beardshaw, Jones, Lock, Jenkins, Worsley.
Replacements: Friday, Greening, Scrase, Leek, Allen, Shaw, Mackenzie.

Treviso: Mason, Perziano, Pozzebon, Magorian, D. Dallan, Mazzariol, Richards, Ribbens, Moscardi, Properzi, Campbell, Gritti, Ongaro, Bergamasco, Edwards.
Replacements: Mazzantini, Pavanello, Preo, Faliva, Visser, Constanzo, Visentin.

Referee: Gerard Borreani (France)