Gloucester 24-17 Wasps

Gloucester maintained their advantage at the top of the Zurich Premiership but they were made work hard by Wasps.

Two crucial kicks and an injury-time try by Henry Paul maintained their unbeaten home league record and sent them eight points clear at the top of the table.

Gloucester trailed Wasps three times before Paul turned match-winner after taking over the kicking duties from Ludovic Mercier.

The Frenchman's accuracy deserted him as he missed four successive attempts at goal following an early penalty.

Paul found the target on 56 and 78 minutes before diving over for to seal Gloucester's 11th Premiership win.

It wasn't a great performance but you take four points and move on Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville

But there was consolation for Wasps when fly-half Alex King landed his fourth penalty deep into stoppage time for a bonus point.

Wasps boss Warren Gatland sprung a surprise by playing his big guns having announced a weakened side on Friday.

There were starting places for Alex King, Rob Howley, Joe Worsley, Craig Dowd and Josh Lewsey - none of whom were in Gatland's original selection.

Mercier and King exchanged penalties during a scrappy opening and after Mercier missed a long-range attempt, King put Wasps in front.

Gloucester took a while to get going but they broke through the Wasps defence in first-half injury time through lock Mark Cornwell.

There was a game there for us to win Wasps coach Warren Gatland

But Wasps regained the lead within three minutes of the restart when Fraser Waters charged down Marcel Garvey's attempted clearance for an opportunist try.

Cornwell struck again on 51 minutes after Wasps lost possession in midfield but another King penalty put them just one point behind.

But after that it was all Gloucester as Paul landed his two kicks and had the final say in spectacular fashion.

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Gloucester: Paul, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Delport, Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Azam, Vickery, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Buxton, Paramore. Replacements: Stuart-Smith, Amor, Beim, Caves, Molloy, Forrester, Eustace.

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Rudd, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio. Replacements: Wood, Logan, Denney, Gotting, Scrivener, Kershaw, Purdy.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)