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Last Updated: Sunday, 2 October 2005, 15:47 GMT 16:47 UK

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London Irish 26-30 Wasps

POWERGEN CUP

London Irish 26 (16)
Tries: Geraghty, Ojo
Cons: Flutey 2
Pens: Flutey 4

Wasps 30 (12)
Tries: Reddan, O'Connor
Con: Van Gisbergen
Pens: Van Gisbergen 5
DG: King

Att: 6,829

An Alex King drop goal in the dying minutes edged Wasps to a narrow win over London Irish in the Powergen Cup.

Wasps had led for much of the second half following tries from Eoin Reddan and Johnny O'Connor.

But the home side nudged themselves ahead with 10 minutes left through Topsy Ojo's try before King's match-winning kick in the 79th minute.

England convert Mark van Gisbergen added a subsequent penalty to take his tally for the game to 17 points.

Rikki Flutey enjoyed a 100% success rate for London Irish with the boot, kicking 16 points including the conversion to Ojo's try, which looked to have won them the game.

His first kick, another conversion, came after Shane Geraghty charged through with Wasps' defence suffering a rare lapse in concentration.

By the interval, Wasps found themselves 16-12 down as Flutey and Van Gisbergen duelled with their spot kicking.

But the visitors moved ahead for the first time in the 46th minute when Reddan spun off the back of a scrum deep in Irish territory to score.

Flutey restored the Exiles' lead momentarily before Wasps scored their second try of the afternoon in the 52nd minute.

O'Connor was on hand to scoop up the ball and sprint in unchallenged from 25 yards after team-mate Paul Sackey spilled it in the tackle.

Ojo and Flutey them combined to put Irish ahead before King and Van Gisbergen spoiled their celebrations.

London Irish stand-in captain Bob Casey:
"It's a measure of how far we have come since last season that the boys are devastated down in the changing room.

"We played the past European champions today, and we should have won that game.

"But there's a lot of encouragement to be taken, especially the lineout contesting, which was excellent."

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan:
"You are having to chase the game if you haven't got possession. It becomes a difficult game when you don't have the ball.

"But I thought we dug in well to win the game."

London Irish: Armitage; Staniforth, Penney, Geraghty, Bishop; Everitt, Hodgson; Collins, Paice, Hardwick; Casey, Kennedy; Gustard, Danaher, Leguizamon.
Replacements: Ojo for Bishop (40), Hatley for Collins (67), Strudwick for Casey (40), Murphy for Leguizamon (67).
Not Used: Flavin, Willis, Flutey.

Wasps: van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Erinle, Voyce; Brooks, Reddan; Payne, Gotting, Bracken; Hart, Birkett; Worsley, O'Connor, Lock.
Replacements: Lewsey for Waters (60), King for Brooks (74), Dawson for Reddan (64), Barratt for Gotting (68).
Not Used: Dawson, Skivington, Chamberlain.

Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).

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