LONDON IRISH finally wrecked Leicester's title ambitions with a four try burst between the ninth and 50th minutes at Sunbury to secure a win that gives Wasps a freeway to the English League title.

Leicester's third away defeat in nine days left them stranded five points adrift of leaders Wasps with both clubs having three matches to play.

Conversely, the Exiles recorded only their fourth win of the season and their first ever over Leicester in six league meetings to give themselves every chance of participating in the relegation promotion play offs rather than being locked into one of the automatic relegation slots.

The visitors took a chance on fielding a near second team including three players making their first league appearance. But they crucially lacked the experience of injured or rested stars like Neil Back and Martin Johnson as London Irish blitzed them before holding on comfortably during the inevitable Tigers fightback.

Leicester began as though the galaxy of stars were still on board, lock Matt Poole driving over from a line out after only six minutes.

But it was significant that the Tigers' only other try on the hour also came from a second row forward when Neil Fletcher scored from a similar close range move. But by then London Irish had scored all their 25 points.

Gabriel Fulcher spun over the line and Conor O'Shea converted. Centre Nick Burrows then extended the lead to 12-5 in the 19th minute by bursting through on a devastating diagonal run.

Rob Liley kept Leicester in touch with a 22nd minute penalty but before half time Liley had a kick charged down by Justin Bishop who scored on the follow up.

London Irish wrapped up the match in the first 10 minutes of the second half with a simple penalty for O'Shea and a try from flanker Ken O'Connell on the blind side of a ruck.

That left the Irish 25-8 in front with 30 minutes to go and Leicester could not play catch up rugby.

Fletcher's try was converted by Liley, who then kicked a penalty to leave them needing a converted try to win in the final 14 minutes.

The Tigers had no claws and never suggested that they could salvage their double ambitions as for the third time in just over a week another club did Wasps a massive favour.