 | MATCH SUMMARY Leeds 23 (16)
Tries: Balshaw, Hooper
Cons: De Marigny, Ross
Pens: De Marigny 3 Wasps 47 (12)
Tries: Voyce, Ibanez 2, Hart, Sackey
Cons: Van Gisbergen 5
Pens: Van Gisbergen 4
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Wasps scored five second-half tries to power past winless Leeds at Headingley. The first half was a close affair with the Tykes claiming three penalties and Wasps kicking four.
Iain Balshaw put Leeds ahead with a fine try on 38 minutes but Tom Voyce replied for Wasps just after the break and the visitors never looked back.
Raphael Ibanez scored twice in three minutes while John Hart added a fourth and although Stuart Hooper scored for Leeds, Paul Sackey completed the rout.
Leeds, prompted by the half-back pairing of Roland de Marigny and Justin Marshall, battled bravely in the opening period and were able to match the reigning Premiership champions.
And at half-time they had edged into a 16-12 lead thanks to Balshaw's try, which came after some fine work from De Marigny and flanker Jon Dunbar.
But Wasps were superb after the break and Voyce put Wasps ahead after a clever grubber kick from Alex King.
The visitors then showed their strength in depth as Ayoola Erinle, Raphael Ibanez and Simon Shaw all came on to add fire to Wasps' cause.
It soon paid off as Ibanez scored two quickfire tries while Hart and Sackey crossed as Leeds tired.
These are worrying times for Leeds head coach Phil Davies as his side have now lost their opening three games, and it does not get any easier as they entertain Leicester next week.
Wasps coach Ian McGeechan on playing Matt Dawson: "We've spoken to the England coaches and the England management, and they know we will look after our players.
"Wasps have a reputation for the way we look after our players, and that is
not going to change.
"The important thing is to communicate and make sure there is trust on both
sides."
Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies:
"We still have reasons to be optimistic.
"Progress doesn't always go in a straight line, and although it might look
like we're going backwards at the moment, we just need a win to get things
going.
"We are building our squad with a quality group of lads."
Leeds: Balshaw (capt); Biggs, C Jones, Snyman, Doherty; De Marigny, Marshall; Shelly, Rawlinson, Kerr; Murphy, Palmer; Dunbar, Parks, Crane.
Replacements: Ross for De Marigny (62), Cusack for Shelley (48), Bulloch for Rawlinson (56), Hooper for Murphy (56), Morgan for Dunbar (56).
Not Used: Care, Stimpson.
Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Abbott, Voyce; King, M Dawson; Payne, Gotting, J Dawson; Purdy, Birkett; Hart (capt), O'Connor, Worsley.
Replacements: Erinle for Waters (56), Brooks for King (72), Reddan for M Dawson (75), Bracken for Payne (75), Ibanez for Gotting (56), Shaw for Purdy (56), Lock for O'Connor (75).
Att: 4,564
Ref: Martin Fox (RFU).
MMIX
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