Premiership: Wasps 37-6 Harlequins

Tom Varndell scored the first try for Wasps in the 21st minute

Tries from Tom Varndell and Elliot Daly helped Wasps earn a bonus-point win over Harlequins at the Ricoh Arena.

Andy Goode kicked three penalties and converted both Varndell and Daly's first-half tries to give the hosts a well-deserved 23-6 lead at the break.

Wasps were awarded a penalty try early in the second half as George Robson was penalised and sent to the sin bin.

The hosts looked like they might miss out on a crucial bonus point but were handed a second penalty try late on.

Wasps, who were without the suspended Ashley Johnson and missing 11 players through injury, handed a debut to centre James Downey after his arrival on loan from Glasgow Warriors but he had to be withdrawn after just six minutes.

Varndell, in for the injured Will Helu, ran in Wasps opening try after a strong run from Christian Wade.

Then Daly extended their advantage after a powerful drive from the hosts' pack.

Nick Evans kicked two penalties for the visitors but they trailed by 17 points at the break.

After the restart, Wasps piled on the pressure and were eventually awarded a penalty try after Quins illegally stopped a drive, a decision which saw Robson handed a yellow card.

Despite their dominance, for long periods of the second half it looked as though Wasps might miss out on a crucial bonus point but, after Harlequins back row Jack Clifford was sent to the sin bin, Dai Young's side capitalised and were awarded a second penalty try as a scrum edged closer and closer towards the try line.

After that fourth Wasps try, Alex Lozowski calmly converted to round off a solid performance from the hosts in front of another relatively-sizeable home crowd of 16,116.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young:

"It was really pleasing as against Quins you can't relax until the final whistle goes. They've been our bogey side but today we nailed our chances early on and frustrated them so we always had the edge.

"At the start of the season, I didn't think we were a top-four side. Our goal was to finish in the top six but the league is so close, if it goes our way we could finish fourth but you could easily finish 10th.

"To get a crowd like today is phenomenal and we really enjoy playing here. We want to make the place a fortress, winning helps, but we are fully aware of our responsibility."

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:

"Some young players are learning some harsh lessons at present and our confidence is brittle at the moment.

"It's a tough unforgiving league but we will keep fighting. Next week's game against Exeter is a must win for us."

"We gave them the start they needed by conceding an easy nine points which you can't afford to do away from home. It's been an up and down season for us."

Wasps: Miller; Wade, Daly, Downey, Helu; Goode, Simpson; Mullan (capt), Shervington, Cooper-Woolley, Davies, Myall, Jackson, Young, Hughes.

Replacements: Festuccia, McIntyre, Cittadini, Gaskell, Thompson, Bliss, Lozowski, Varndell.

Harlequins: Monye; Yarde, Hopper, Lowe, Walker; Evans, Care; Lambert, Gray, Sinckler, Matthews (capt), Robson, Trayfoot, Wallace, Clifford.

Replacements: Ward, Marfo, Adeniran-Olule, Twomey, Talei, Dickson, Botica, Lindsay-Hague.