Rugby: Wasps outlast Tigers to continue playoff surge

Tries from Paul Sackey and Steve Kefu drove London Wasps to a resilient 24-22 victory over Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Dave Walder added 14 points with the boot as Wasps took a six-point lead in at half-time and, led by the outstanding Simon Shaw, held firm to move just one point behind the Tigers in the Guinness Premiership table.

Toby Flood kept Leicester in contention with five penalties and a last gasp Jordan Crane try earned the Tigers a bonus point - but it was Wasps' day.

Sackey steamrollered his way over after just six minutes to give the home side a dream start but Flood soon punished Wasps with calm goal-kicking on the way to 12 first-half points.

But five minutes before the break, with his team trailing 12-8, Kefu dived over under the posts. Walder slotted the conversion and added a penalty to give Wasps an 18-12 half-time advantage.

In a scrappy second half, the hosts kept their noses in front as Walder struck two penalties while Flood managed just one. As the Tigers mounted a desperate late assault, Crane forced his way over and Aaron Mauger drilled over the extras.

But it was too little, too late as Wasps - who had Danny Cipriani back among the replacements -held on to stay in the midst of the playoff race.