Wasps reclaim top spot with 22-16 win over Leicester Tigers

Wasps 22-16 Leicester Tigers, Ricoh Arena
Scorecard

Wasps resisted a spirited second half fightback from Leicester Tigers to register a 22-16 Aviva Premiership clash at Ricoh Arena on Sunday.

It took Dai Young's men just four minutes to start the proceedings when wing Christian Wade crossed over allowing fly-half Jimmy Gopperth to add the conversion. The two-pointer also allowed Gopperth cross 200 points this season.

Wasps further increased the lead to 12 points when hooker Tommy Taylor strolled past the post in the ninth minute but Gopperth missed the conversion this time.

The 27,930 spectators at Ricoh Arena were given visual treat as scrum-half Dan Robson touched down in the 27th minute and the home team stretched the lead to 19 points after Gopperth added the extras.

Fly-half Owen Williams provided some respite for Leicester Tigers before half-time with a penalty as they trailed by 16 points at the end of first half.

Leicester Tigers started the second half with a lot of promise as Williams kicked his second penalty in the 43rd minute to reduce the gap to 13 points. The first try for the visitors came through centre Peter Betham which was followed by a conversion and a penalty from fullback Freddie Burns, who took over the kicking duties from Williams.

As the game entered the final quarter, the gap between the two teams were just three points, thereby setting a tense finish.

However, the Tigers suffered a major setback when prop Dan Cole was sin-binned in the 65th minute for a deliberate knock-on on Joe Simpson that resulted in a penalty for Gopperth.

Wasps managed to held their nerve in the closing stage and secured a six-point win over the Tigers which helped them overhaul Saracens to the pole position in the table.