WASPS went clear at the top of the English League last night with this win over relegation-threatened London Irish at Loftus Road - but they did not look like potential champions.
Their only genuine try came in the 45th minute of the second half, when Nick Greenstock scooted over. Otherwise, they relied on penalty tries - two of them - and the boots of Gareth Rees and Alex King for their points.
Rees and Conor O'Shea fired over early penalties, before London Irish conceded their first penalty try after five offences in quick succession on their own line to mace it 10-3.
Rees collected a penalty after a brawl, but Irish created the only serious moment of fluid rugby of the opening half when Ray Hennessy sent centre Paul Flood in for a score that Wasps responded to with a drop-goal by King.
However, Irish, 16-10 behind at the interval, hit back to grab a pushover try through Gabriel Fulcher, which was followed by O'Shea's 46th minute penalty.
At 18-16 down Wasps were struggling and were happy to rely on the referee's interpretation of another scrum collapse that gave them a second penalty try in the 49th minute.
Rees converted and Wasps added to their 23-18 advantage with injury-time scores from Rees - a penalty - and Greenstock, whose try resulted from a kick and chase.
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