Exiles stung late on

Wasps scored an injury-time Powergen Cup win against London Irish.

London Irish 26-30 Wasps

Powergen Cup, Madejski Stadium, Sunday October 2

A last-minute drop goal from fly-half Alex King set Wasps up for a dramatic 26-30 Powergen Cup win over London Irish.

The former England player became Wasps' hero with his first touch of the game, having only arrived on the pitch six minutes earlier.

And full-back Mark Van Gisbergen added the finishing touch with an injury-time penalty, the new England recruit contributing 17 points in all to the Wasps cause.

The visitors' last-gasp triumph robbed Rikki Flutey and Topsy Ojo of a dream start for the Exiles.

England Under-21 winger Ojo - a 41st minute replacement for the injured Justin Bishop - levelled the score after 71 minutes after displaying electrifying speed to chase down a Delon Armitage kick.

The try was converted by Flutey, who was promoted from the bench when fly-half Barry Everitt sustained an ankle injury during the pre-match warm-up.

The New Zealander - who only arrived in the country last Monday - capitalised on the unexpected opportunity to turn in a 100% kicking display, with four penalties and two conversions contributing to his personal tally of 16 points.

Flutey's first came after seven minutes when Shane Geraghty caught the Wasps defence napping to run unchallenged between the posts.

But Van Gisbergen's consequent display both fully justfied his England call-up and allowed his side to stay in touch, with Wasps trailing 16-12 at the interval.

And the visitors went ahead in the 46th minute when scrum-half Eoin Reddan spun of the back of a set-piece to touch down by the left corner flag.

Van Gisbergen missed the conversion - his only miss of the afternoon - before London Irish briefly re-established themselves with a Flutey penalty.

Wasps scored their second try in the 52nd minute when, following a crunching Armitage tackle on Exile Paul Sackey, the loose ball was picked up by flanker Jonny O'Connor to score.

Van Gisbergen put the visitors 24-19 ahead before the game's final two twists: Ojo and Flutey again handing Irish the lead, before King and Van Gisburgen trumped them late on.

London Irish (16) 26.
Tries: Geraghty, Ojo. Cons: Flutey 2. Pens: Flutey 4.
Wasps (12) 30.
Tries: Reddan, O'Connor. Cons: van Gisbergen.
Pens: van Gisbergen 5. Drop Goals: King.
Att: 6,829