LV= Cup: Leicester Tigers run wild against under-strength Wasps
Holders Leicester ran in five tries to keep their LV= Cup hopes alive with a 34-8 victory over Wasps at Welford Road.
Last Updated: 26/01/13 5:51pm
The Tigers' tries came through Logovi'i Mulipola, Michael Noone, Mathew Tait and Vereniki Goneva, who crossed twice, with Dan Bowden kicking a conversion and a penalty and Matt Cornwell two conversions.
Wasps, who were understrength and have not won at Leicester since 2008, were outplayed for most of the game and scored a consolation try through replacement Hugo Southwell near the end to add to a penalty from Tommy Bell.
Wasps dominated possession early on but Leicester took the lead in the 18th minute when Samoa prop Mulipola drove over from a line-out, with Bowden adding the touchline conversion, then knocking over a penalty to put Leicester 10-0 ahead.
Wasps flanker Tinus Du Plessis was sin-binned five minutes from half-time for a professional foul at a ruck and Leicester took full advantage of the extra man by scoring from a line-out.
They drove to the line and Bowden caught Wasps napping with a great diagonal run down the blind side to create an easy try for Noone.
Bell finally put Wasps on the scoreboard with a 47th-minute penalty, and the visitors then repelled a promising Leicester attack by destroying their scrum.
Leicester centre Andy Forsyth created a great chance for winger Scott Hamilton but the Kiwi's inside pass near the line was intercepted.
With the game starting to open up, Leicester's former England back Tait started to have a bigger influence and he finished off a fine Leicester move with a 20-metre dash for the line.
Goneva scored Leicester's fourth try, converted by Cornwell before, with five minutes remaining, replacement Southwell salvaged some pride for Wasps with a try.
But Leicester had the last word as Goneva crossed again for their fifth try, with Cornwell knocking over the conversion.
