RUGBY UNION: WASPS GO SO CLOSE

WASPS coach Warren Gatland reckoned his side missed a rare chance to beat Zurich Premiership champs Leicester.

He said: "It was an opportunity missed. It was pretty tight and their line-out was so much better than ours and that was the difference between the two teams.

"We gave away a couple of silly early penalties but apart from that they were two evenly matched sides."

However, the Tigers managed to beat the Wasps in a war of attrition.

Having disposed of Saracens last Sunday to claim their first away win of the season, the four-time champions edged a forwards battle in the most appalling conditions. The match came down to the boot of two players, Tigers' Tim Stimpson, who kicked three penalties from six, and Wasps' Mark Van Gisbergen, who landed two from three.

Leicester coach Dean Richards said: "It was a lottery. I was confident we were the better team but I was always concerned in case Wasps got into our half and got a penalty."

Leicester's victory maintained the pressure on leaders Gloucester and extended their unbeaten league run at home to an astonishing 56 games.

But there was always a chance yesterday that Wasps might win it with a breakaway try.

The Tigers, who were without England players Austin Healey and Lewis Moody, had perhaps the only try-scoring opportunity of the game.

That came as early as the first minute following a towering up- and-under by Geordan Murphy.

After that the forwards slugged it out like two heavyweight boxers.

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