Wasps (12) 35 Tries: O'Connor, Voyce, Erinle Cons: King Pens: King (5) McRae Dropped goal: King London Irish: (13) 26 Tries: Staniforth (2) Cons: Everitt, Mapletoft Pens: Everitt (4) Att: 7,957

Following defeats against Saracens and Sale, Wasps made a hesitant start, with the Exiles a point ahead at half-time.

Two further penalties extended that lead, but Jonny O'Connor's try and a King drop goal put Wasps ahead.

Tom Voyce sliced through the Irish defence to add the second try and Ayoola Enrile stretched clear for the third as Wasps made the game safe.

After their slow start, Wasps began to improve when Joe Worsley began to play a more influential part in the match.

Captaining the side and playing his more favoured number eight role, Worsley launched a break from the base of a Wasps scrum 10 metres inside his own half.

It is about keeping faith with the young guys Wasps coach, Warren Gatland

The ball was spun wide before Worsley took hold of possession again through the middle and referee Dave Pearson pulled up the Irish defence for offside.

It gave Wasps the initiative, but it still took them time to convert pressure into points, despite Irish being without Bob Casey for 10 minutes after he was sent to the sin-bin for use of the forearm.

Irish continued to battle hard, but they were also unable to benefit greatly from a man advantage when Wasps lock John Hart was sin-binned.

Wasps finally made their pressure tell and Voyce, who toured New Zealand and Australia with England in the summer, carved through the defence, with the momentum to cross the line despite the close attendance of Paul Sackey.

King missed the conversion as the ball rolled off the kicking tee but soon added a fifth penalty.

Wasps completed victory with six minutes remaining when Enrile, a constant danger to the Irish defence, took the pass from Matt Dawson, spun out of the tackle and crossed under the posts.

We just made errors at crucial times London Irish coach Gary Gold

In the absence of several internationals, Wasps coach Warren Gatland was pleased with the way his younger players responded to an early deficit.

"In the four games we have played, the other teams have been at full strength and it is about keeping faith with those young guys," he said.

"I was happy with the way the guys performed and disappointed in the end we didn't take the bonus point (awarded for four tries)."

London Irish head coach Gary Gold pulled no punches after his team's defeat.

"We just made errors at crucial times," he lamented, having seen a 10-0 lead disappear.

"When we were 10 points up, to score a try when we were camping in their 22 was absolutely vital for us."

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Priscott, Erinle, Richards, Voyce, King, Dawson, Mackenzie, Greening, Payne, Hart, Birkett, Lock, O'Connor, Worsley.
Replacements: Gotting, Nwume, Skivington, Dallaglio, Biljon, Hoadley, Brooks.

London Irish: Staniforth, Sackey, Mordt, Catt, Bishop, Everitt, Hodgson, Hatley, Russell, Hardwick, Kennedy, Casey, Strudwick, Dawson, Roche.
Replacements: Durant, Paice, Murphy, Danaher, Horak, Edwards, Mapletoft.

Referee: D Pearson (RFU)