Daly wins it for Wasps

Elliot Daly kicked a last-minute penalty from halfway to give Wasps a crucial 26-24 victory against Gloucester in their battle against relegation.

The slender victory means Wasps now have an eight-point lead over bottom club Newcastle, with the sides due to meet in the last match of the season at Adams Park.

Nic Berry and Hugo Southwell both scored tries for the hosts but Gloucester crossed through Scott Lawson, Charlie Sharples and Akapusi Qera to lead until late on.

Former Cherry and Whites fly-half Nicky Robinson kicked three penalties and two conversions, but frustratingly missed four other penalty attempts that looked to have cost his side dear.

However, Wasps were given one last chance in the final minute, and centre Daly was given the nerve-wracking task of kicking from the halfway line - which he managed superbly to grab the most crucial of four points.

Lead

Wasps took the lead in the first minute through a simple penalty from Robinson after Gloucester were penalised straight from the kick-off.

This was soon followed by an excellent solo try from Berry. Vunipola quickly took a tap penalty and from the ensuing ruck, the scrum-half darted past some poor Gloucester defence for a try which Robinson converted for a 10-0 lead after five minutes.

The visitors scored their first points when Freddie Burns made no mistake from 40 metres after earlier missing from halfway.

Gloucester levelled the scores with their best move of the match. A pass from Burns was almost intercepted by Tom Prydie but it did put James Simpson-Daniel through the gap and the visitors made the most of that momentum to send Lawson over for a try which Burns converted.

Back came Wasps and Robinson had two penalty chances just before half-time. The first from 35 metres was successful but the second, a more difficult one from the touchline, rebounded back off a post to leave his side with a deserved 13-10 lead at the interval.

Penalties

Early in the second half, Robinson was on target with his third penalty from 30 metres before Wasps scored a splendid try. Berry broke away from a ruck deep inside his own half to run 40 metres and feed Prydie.

The wing beat two defenders on a weaving run before some skilful passing created a try for Hugo Southwell which Robinson converted.

A stunned Gloucester responded immediately with seven points of their own, as clever interplay from Narraway and Nick Runciman gave Charlie Sharples an easy run-in for a try which Burns converted.

The score was the prelude for the visitors to dominate the next 15 minutes and camp in the opposition 22 - but Wasps' defence held firm.

However Gloucester took the lead with a superb try 15 minutes from the end. May, on his own 22-metre line, fielded a Robinson kick and then ran 70 metres before feeding Henry Trinder, who sent Akapusi Qera in for the try which Burns converted.

In the closing stages, Robinson failed with an easy 25-metre penalty and then a 45-metre attempt - before Daly's late strike secured a vital win for Wasps.