Tries quick from Ashley Johnson and Tom Varndell helped Wasps to a 20-16 win over Northampton Saints at Adams Park on Sunday.
In what was a very physical contest between the Champions and a team keen to show they could live up with the best sides in league for more than 20 minutes, it took a while for the scoreboard to reflect the quality of the contest.
Both sides only had a penalty to their name at half-time through Andy Goode for Wasps and Stephen Myler for Northampton.
Myler gave what looked to be a crucial lead in such a tight affair with two further penalties but Wasps stung them on the hour with two tries in two minutes.
First Ashley Johnson intercepted a Luther Burrell pass to race over from 40 yards and soon after Tom Vardnell reminded Dai Young why he is one of the most lethal wingers in the league with a super solo try.
All a sudden Wasps were 17-9 in front and although Saints tried to react, replacement Ruaridh Jackson extended the lead with a penalty.
Desperate to claw their way back, the champions threw everything at the Wasps defence but they manage to hold on to the win despite Ben Foden’s late try which rescued the losing-bonus point for Northampton.
In the other game of the day, London Irish survived a late rally from Newcastle to leave Kingston Park with a 20-18 win.
Josh Furno scored the first try of the game for the Falcons but it was the Exiles who took a 6-5 lead into the break thanks to two penalties from Shane Geraghty.
Fergus Mulchrone’s try extended the lead early in the second half but Scott Wilson kept Newcastle in the game with one of his own.
A try Andy Fenby on the hour gave Irish a 10-point lead but the Falcons rallied and could have salvaged the draw.
Juan Pablo-Socino first reduced the gap with a penalty before Sinoti Sinoti made it a two-point game with a try four minutes from time.
But Socino could not convert from the touchline and the home side had to do with the losing bonus-point.
