Exiles: (9) 19 Try: Casey Con: Laidlaw Pens: Laidlaw 4 Wasps: (20) 35 Tries: Lewsey, Worsley, Ibanez, Skivington Cons: Van Gisbergen 3 Pens: Van Gisbergen 3

The visitors were well in command at the break after converted tries from Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley.

Hooker Raphael Ibanez added a third in the second half but a try from Bob Casey and a fourth penalty from Clark Laidlaw kept the Exiles in touch.

But Wasps clinched a bonus point when George Skivington dived over late on.

The visitors were by far the more potent side with ball in hand but missed several opportunities to put the outcome beyond doubt before half-time.

We weren't at our best but we got the job done Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio

Lawrence Dallaglio's poor pass botched a clear overlap early on, while Tom Voyce failed to spot Lewsey in the clear after a slashing break through the middle.

They had to be content with two Mark van Gisbergen penalties in the opening quarter, both cancelled out by Exiles fly-half Clark Laidlaw, making his Premiership debut.

But Dallaglio and Voyce made up for their earlier errors by combining sweetly to send Lewsey over for the opening try in the 24th minute.

Van Gisbergen converted, and added the extras again minutes later when Worsley powered away from a maul to put Wasps 20-6 to the good.

Laidlaw reduced the half-time deficit with his third penalty and Wasps were forced to replace centre Stuart Abbott, who had received attention to a neck injury, with Ayoola Erinle.

Wasps were very strong and their defence was outstanding Exiles boss Brian Smith

Laidlaw missed a long-range penalty attempt on the resumption before Wasps blew another clear overlap after a break from Jeremy Staunton.

But Ibanez eventually plunged over for the third try before Irish launched a mini fightback.

A superb sleight of hand by scrum-half Darren Edwards sent lock Bob Casey over for a try converted by Laidlaw.

Their cause was further helped when Dallaglio was sin-binned for a scuffle with Nick Kennedy in the immediate aftermath.

But Van Gisbergen reasserted Wasps' control with another penalty, Laidlaw responding with his fourth to make it 19-30, before Skivington had the last word.

Wasps will begin 2006 at the head of the Premiership, at least until former leaders Sale play Bath on Monday, and look poised to launch their traditional second-half-of-the-season charge.