Northampton 14 (8) Tries: Wilson Pens: Reihana, Myler Drop goal: Myler Wasps 9 (6) Pens: Cipriani 2, Walder
Stephen Myler sealed the win for Saints
Northampton kept pace with Leicester at the top of the Premiership with a tight win over Wasps at Franklins Gardens.
Saints led 8-6 at half-time thanks to Bruce Reihana's early penalty and Roger Wilson's try just before the break.
Danny Cipriani kicked two penalties for Wasps in the first half but also missed two, but Dave Walder made in 8-9 to the visitors on 65 minutes.
But a 70th minute drop-goal and then a penalty shortly after, both courtesy of sub Stephen Myler, sealed Saints' win.
The victory leaves Northampton just two points behind East Midlands rivals Leicester, who notched a bonus-point 39-18 win at Worcester.
It also stretched the Saints' unbeaten home run to 21 matches as they maintained their quest for a rare treble - the LV= Cup, the Premiership and Heineken Cup.
Although Wasps had the better chances in a keenly contested first-half, the hosts took an 8-6 lead at the interval, courtesy of well-worked try finished off by Roger Wilson.
Winger Tom Varndell looked set to put Wasps in front in the second half following excellent work from Paul Sackey, but a superb try-saving tackle ensured Saints maintained their lead.
Fly-half Danny Cipriani had a try ruled out in the 59th minute when Varndell was penalised for a forward pass in the build-up.
Substitute Walder nailed a penalty to give Wasps a one-point lead before Myler's kicking heroics sealed the points for the hosts.
Northampton Saints director Jim Mallinder tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was a tough game. Wasps played well and we had to defend for our lives.
"When you come up against some sides, who defend aggressively, you need a kicking game as well as a running game. It's all about the balance.
"It's always tough when you play in a Cup final and then you have to refocus. We've had a good week and we're delighted with the four points."
Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks on the return of flanker Tom Rees: "He was massive for us. Top-class players can do that and come back and make an impact and he'll just get better and better.
"For Wasps supporters, for England supporters, for rugby people in general it was great to see Tom out there and it was definitely a massive lift to our guys.
"It would have been quite easy to have given him an A League game or brought him off the bench or not given him back the captaincy but Tom Rees is important to us and he is our leader."
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