Wasps moved into fourth place in the Zurich Premiership with a second-half demolition of Saracens at Adams Park.

Warren Gatland's side compiled a run of 25 points without reply after the break to condemn shell-shocked Sarries to a second consecutive heavy defeat.

The visitors scored the first try and were only three points adrift at the break.

But they fell apart after the interval as Wasps ran in four tries to add to a Craig Dowd effort during the first quarter.

The Kiwi prop was driven over to cancel out Kevin Sorrell's 15th minute opener, scored from Andy Goode's precision chip.

And the goal-kicking of Alex King kept Wasps' noses in front even when scrum-half Martyn Wood was sent to the sin-bin.

The hosts turned round 19-16 ahead and seized the initiative almost immediately after the restart.

Josh Lewsey, switched from full-back to wing in the absence of the injured Shane Roiser, crossed for a try just two minutes into the second spell.

King converted and then followed up with his fourth penalty to give Wasps a 29-16 lead.

Saracens were now beginning to wilt and faced further trouble when replacement Ryan Peacey was sent to the sin-bin.

Wasps duly cashed in and went further ahead when Lawrence Dallaglio crashed over in the 69th minute.

Replacement wing John Rudd then broke two tackles to earn a four-try bonus point three minutes later.

Saracens briefly stopped the rot with a try from Johnny Marsters two minutes from time.

But Dowd had the final word with his second score of the afternoon.

Wasps: Sampson; Lewsey, Abbott, Denney, Logan; A King, Wood; Dowd, Greening, W Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Howley, M van Gisbergen, M van Gisbergen, Rudd, Gotting, Beardshaw, McCarthy, Molloy.

Saracens: Castaignede; Shanklin, Johnston, Sorrell, O'Mahony; Goode, Bracken; Ross, Cairns, Marsters, Hooper, Yandell, Chesney, Hill, B Russell.
Replacements: Croall, Parkes, Benazzi, Peacey, Williams, Little, Winnan.

Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU)