Wasps recorded the first win of their Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign on Friday night with a 36-12 victory over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
The visitors were the better side and scored tries through Antonio Harris, Brendan Macken (two), Guy Armitage and Nizaam Carr. Connor Eastgate kicked four conversions and a penalty for Wasps.
Ospreys never gave up, but were out-muscled as scores from Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ifan Phillips failed to make any difference to the overall result.
Wasps hooker Antonio Harris scores the opening try during the Anglo-Welsh Cup clash
Both sides fielded youthful line-ups, and it was Wasps who forged ahead with two tries in the opening 11 minutes which the hosts will have considered soft.
Hooker Harris peeled around the side of a line-out to cross with ease and, almost straight from the restart, outside centre Macken picked off a loose home pass to intercept for his team’s second. Eastgate converted the second of those scores.
Wasps, who were beaten 53-41 by Newcastle in round one, were too big and powerful up front for their opposition to deal with, but the Ospreys were not helped by losing a series of their own line-outs.
The visitors were soon over again with Jacob Umaga – nephew of former New Zealand captain Tana – passing for Armitage to dive over in the corner. Eastgate added the extras.
Wasps wing Guy Armitage sprints down the wing at Liberty Stadium on Friday night
At that stage a hammering looked likely, but the Ospreys recovered well. Impressive scrum-half Morgan-Williams dived over from close range – converted by skipper Luke Price – and a pushover score from hooker Phillips made it 19-12 at the break.
Wasps had lost prop Paul Doran-Jones to a yellow card for a professional foul before the interval, and constant drizzle did not help the flow of the game.
But the English side moved further clear thanks to powerful number eight Carr, the South Africa international who joined the club on a three-month contract from the Stormers last month.
Eastgate added his third conversion and then a penalty with Wasps dominant, save for one searing break from home wing Jay Baker.
Both sides rung the changes, but there was still time for one more Wasps try. Substitute Joe Simpson’s pass found Macken and his hard line saw him burst through some poor Ospreys tackling. Eastgate converted to continue a good night with the boot.
The final 10 minutes was end to end and the Ospreys had the better of it, but Baker had a try ruled out for blocking and his fellow wing Dafydd Howells limped off injured.