MATCH SUMMARY Bristol (6) 9 Pens: Hayes (2), Strange Wasps (9) 9 Pens: Van Gisbergen (2), Staunton

Neither side threatened a try as the two packs cancelled each other out.

Penalties from Tommy Hayes and Mark van Gisbergen brought the scores to 6-6 before a late Jeremy Staunton kick gave the visitors a narrow half-time lead.

Jason Strange's equalising penalty midway through the second half proved to be the end of the scoring.

Hayes gave the home side the lead with a well-struck kick, but Van Gisbergen's penalty levelled the scores a minute later.

With the rain falling, the match failed to sparkle as both teams opted for safety-first rugby and Wasps' efforts were continually undermined by a malfunctioning line-out.

Hayes restored Bristol's lead with his second kick, but Van Gisbergen again brought Wasps level.

Both kickers missed chances, and Wasps turned to Staunton for an effort to give them the lead towards the end of the first half.

It was more of the same in the second half in a match almost totally devoid of inspiration, with Strange's penalty the only points of the half.

Bristol's powerful pack dominated their illustrious opponents after the break, but could not find a way to secure the victory their display deserved.

England stars Tom Voyce and Lawrence Dallaglio both left the pitch with blood injuries in the second half.

Bristol coach Richard Hill on the difference between his side and Saracens:
"We have picked up two points against the champions, whereas it is a pretty unhappy camp when you have lost by 50 points.

"In recent weeks we had been slipping down the table, which hadn't made for very nice reading.

"But it was a good effort today and it has given us a real lift."

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan:
"We didn't secure our own ball from line-outs or scrums in the way we would have wanted.

"The line-out has been going well, but today wasn't a good day.

"Bristol are competitive. Probably half the league are still in the (relegation) equation, and a good side will go down."

Bristol: Stortoni; Robinson, Higgitt, Cox, Lemi; Hayes, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Budgett, Llewellyn; Salter, Short, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Going for Stortoni (70), Strange for Hayes (51), Sambucetti for Budgett (70).
Not Used: A Clarke, Nelson, Lewis, Nicholls.

Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Hoadley, Abbott, Voyce; Staunton, M Dawson; Payne, Barratt, Bracken; Shaw, Skivington; Leo, Rees, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Erinle for Abbott (11), Waters for Voyce (58), Gotting for Barratt (51), Va'a for Bracken (46), O'Connor for Rees (54).
Not Used: Lock, Reddan.

Att: 9,028

Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU).