Nizaam Carr scored a crucial try as Wasps edged Bristol 29-22, while there were also wins for Saracens, Harlequins, Bath, Northampton and Gloucester in the English Premiership.
The win keeps Wasps fifth on the log, just two points clear of a Bath side that is on an upward trajectory. The Bristol Bears are 10th.
In a one-sided first half, Wasps were just too good for their hosts at Ashton Gate Stadium, leading 19-3 at the break. Bristol came back strongly in the second half, but in the end, they came up just short.
Ian Madigan slotted an early penalty for Bristol, but Thomas Young scored the first try of the game in the 10th minute for Wasps. The visitors continued to press, but only managed to extend their lead towards the end of the half when Tom Cruse and Carr went over to score. The double strike gave Wasps a 16-point lead.
Bristol showed plenty of fight immediately after the break as they worked to reduce the deficit to four heading into the last quarter. Harry Randall, Piers O’Conor and Charles Piutau all scored to put the game on a knife’s edge.
But Lima Sopoaga kicked a penalty to reinstate Wasps’ seven-point lead, which they held onto until the final whistle.
In other results, Saracens claimed a 33-10 bonus-point win against the Leicester Tigers, which, coupled with the Exeter Chiefs’ 24-17 defeat to Gloucester, saw Sarries move to the top of the log.
Harlequins defeated the Worcester Warriors 47-33, Bath thumped the Newcastle Falcons 30-13 and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scored in the Northampton Saints’ 67-17 demolition of the Sale Sharks.
Round 13 results:
Bristol Bears 22 Wasps 29
Saracens 33 Leicester Tigers 10
Gloucester 24 Exeter Chiefs 17
Harlequins 47 Worcester Warriors 33
Bath 30 Newcastle Falcons 13
Northampton Saints 67 Sale Sharks 17
Photo: @WaspsRugby/Twitter
