Wasps (22) 39 Tries: Dawson, Voyce 3, Van Gisbergen 2 Cons: Van Gisbergen 3 Pens: Van Gisbergen Northampton: (6) 9 Pens: Drahm, Grayson 2

England winger Tom Voyce scored a hat-trick of tries as Northampton lurched closer to relegation with a heavy defeat at champions Wasps.

Wasps scrum-half Matt Dawson grabbed the first try of the match against his former club and the hosts led 22-6 at the break after Voyce scored twice.

Paul Grayson narrowed the gap with a penalty for Northampton after the break but Wasps then took total control.

Voyce completed his treble either side of a brace of Mark van Gisbergen tries.

Wasps flanker Johnny O'Connor is a major doubt for Ireland's Six Nations showdown against England next weekend after hobbling off with an ankle injury after 55 minutes.

Ireland hit by injury to O'Connor

But by the time he had left the field bottom-placed Northampton were already well beaten.

And with a run-in to the end of the Premiership season which starts with Leicester and Gloucester before they tackle Harlequins, Bath, Newcastle and Worcester, relegation looms ever closer.

We want to get a home semi-final and that put a bit of daylight between us and the fourth-placed team Wasps boss Warren Gatland

They were level with Wasps at 3-3 as Shane Drahm and Van Gisbergen traded penalties before Dawson nipped over under the posts to put Wasps ahead against his old club.

Van Gisbergen converted and soon cruised through a huge blindside hole to put Voyce over for the first of his hat-trick.

Voyce soon went over again after Phil Greening had intercepted a loose pass from Johnny Howard.

The visitors responded by taking off half-backs Drahm and Howard and bringing on Andrew Fulton - for his debut - and Grayson.

The confidence factor is a difficult one to gauge and to instil when you're at the bottom Saints coach Budge Pountney

Grayson briefly settled Saints' nerves with a penalty either side of the break but normal service was resumed after 54 minutes when Dallaglio's pass put Van Gisbergen in at the corner.

The full-back converted from wide on the right but Wasps suffered a casualty in the move as O'Connor was helped off after damaging his left ankle in a midfield pile-up.

In injury time Voyce scored after Van Gisbergen released him on a weaving 60 metre run to the line.

And Van Gisbergen wrapped up the scoring six minutes into injury time when he broke a tackle to burst over in the corner.

Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Lewsey, Erinle, Voyce; King, Dawson; Payne, Greening, Dowd; Shaw, Purdy; Worsley, O'Connor, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Hoadley for Lewsey (62), Brooks for King (56), Richards for Dawson (62), Green for Dowd (63), Skivington for Shaw (62), Rees for O'Connor (56). Not Used: Gotting.