Dallaglio try inspires Wasps

Lawrence Dallaglio marked his return with a try as Wasps beat London Irish 23-13.

Lawrence Dallaglio marked his return to action with a try and an inspirational display as London Wasps kept their EDF Energy Cup hopes alive.

Having lost their opening game of the competition, the champions bounced back with a gritty 23-13 victory over London Irish.

And the comebacks of Dallaglio and prop Phil Vickery - both making their first starts of the season - will have added the icing to the cake for Wasps coach Shaun Edwards.

London Irish had beaten Saracens 36-24 the previous week largely thanks to their superior pack. However, Irish found the Wasps forwards - bolstered by England duo Vickery and Dallaglio - a whole different proposition.

The statement of intent from the home side came after just eight minutes. A textbook catch and drive 10 metres out saw the Wasps pack trundle over the line, with Dallaglio emerging from the pile of bodies with the ball. Teenage fly-half Dan Cipriani, making his first start for Wasps, slotted over the extras.

Irish hit back with Barry Everitt on target with a penalty and then converting Riki Flutey's 20th-minute try - the New Zealand centre on hand to finish off Sailosi Tagicakibau's incisive break.

However, although Cipriani, earmarked as a future England fly-half after being included in Andy Robinson's elite training squad, had a mixed game with the boot, he managed to level matters with a 25th-minute penalty.

And while there were signs of promise from Cipriani, it was a day to forget for London Irish's Armitage brothers - with Delon and Steffon both sin-binned during a fiery first half.

Steffon Armitage was first off for a dangerous tackle, but it was the departure of Delon that was to prove the more costly.

The young winger was given his 10-minute spell on the sidelines for a high tackle on Simon Amor just before the interval - an incident that sparked ugly scenes as both sides squared up to each other - and Wasps made the extra man tell when Tom Voyce ghosted his way through a depleted Irish defence for a try on 43 minutes.

Cipriani converted to give Wasps a 17-10 lead. And the home side never looked back from there on in with replacement Alex King, on for Cipriani, extending their advantage with two penalties - sandwiching Flutey's successful effort for Irish on 68 minutes.

Wasps were only denied a bonus point by their own errors, with too many passes going astray in promising positions. However, they will face Saracens in the last group game with renewed hope, knowing a bonus-point victory could see them progress through to the semi-finals.