Wasps gave their season a big boost and dealt stumbling champions Leicester yet another blow as they produced a second-half rally at Adams Park on Friday.

After a dire first half, which saw both sides give away countless penalties, the hosts improved after the break and they now move above Leicester in the Zurich Premiership.

Alex King was in good form for Wasps and he kicked 16 points to back up tries from Josh Lewsey and the excellent Rob Howley.

Leicester were very negative throughout the match and, apart from a stunning try by Harry Ellis, they created little, with their other points coming from the boot of Tim Stimpson.

We stuck to the task and we got what we deserved Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio

Despite being out-played throughout the first 40 minutes the champions turned round 10-6 up at the break.

Wasps took the lead through a King penalty before the Tigers scored the first try of the day, sparked by Martin Johnson winning a defensive lineout two yards from his own line.

Leicester drove the ball forward before flanker Josh Kronfeld erupted through a gap and carried the ball to halfway.

Ellis dives over for Leicester's only try

Young scrum-half Ellis was in support and he raced over in the corner, keeping the seriously quick Howley at bay in the process, for a brilliant length-of-the-field effort.

Stimpson's excellent conversion made it 7-3 and a penalty apiece from King and Stimpson gave Leicester a four-point lead at the interval.

Leicester somehow escaped with just one player sin-binned after some desperately cynical tactics at the ruck to slow down Wasps' possession.

The referee could have sent off at least three more Tigers had he been so inclined, although Wasps hooker Trevor Leota, in the second half, was the only other man to be shown the yellow card.

Match details

Wasps 26: Tries: Lewsey, Howley Cons: King (2) Pens: King (3) Drop Goal: King Leicester 13: Try: Ellis Con: Stimpson Pens: Stimpson (2)

The hosts got their act together after the break and King kicked a drop goal and a penalty either side of a Stimpson penalty to trim the gap to 13-9 after 56 minutes.

The hosts then took full control and scored a couple of cracking tries to sew up victory.

The first came when Lewsey was on hand to finish off a good break from Stuart Abbot.

King added the conversion and he was on target again with the extras when Wasps scored their third try to make the game safe.

Last week we were disappointed and I knew the boys would be up for it Wasps boss Warren Gatland

The evergreen Howley showed what Wales are missing now he has retired from the international scene as he dummied and side-stepped at the base of a ruck.

The Leicester defence parted like the Red Sea and Howley cruised over to ensure that the Tigers would lose three league matches in a row for the first time in over five years.

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Rudd, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio. Replacements: Wood, Logan, Denney, Gotting, Scrivener, Kershaw, Purdy.

Leicester: Stimpson, Holtby, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, Vesty, Ellis, Jelley, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, W. Johnson, Kronfeld, Balding. Replacements: Chuter, Tournaire, Back, Deacon, Tierney, Gelderbloom, Raynor.

Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)