Premiership: Leicester Tigers 27-8 Wasps - Three players sent off in hosts' victory

Referee Craig Maxwell-Keys sent three players off

Leicester's forwards dominated Wasps to set up a 27-8 Premiership win in a game where three men were sent off.

Tigers' pack ensured the home side controlled the game and pushover tries from Jasper Wiese, Julian Montoya and Tommy Reffell earned a comfortable win.

But Wiese was sent off after 26 minutes for an illegal clear-out before Hanro Liebenberg was also red-carded late on.

Two minutes after half-time, Kieran Brookes was also sent off but Tom Cruse's try failed to revive Wasps.

Leicester's victory sees them leapfrog Wasps into sixth place in the Premiership.

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A day on from two red cards in Bath's victory over Gloucester, the clampdown on making contact to the head continued.

Tigers number eight Wiese came from distance to clear out a ruck on the Wasps line and made clear contact with his shoulder to the head of flanker Ben Morris, to not only leave Leicester a man short with just 26 minutes played but deny his side a try from Cyle Brink.

Wasps prop Brookes' shoulder charge on Tigers lock Tomas Lavanini was not as egregious but clear head contact was also made and the sides were both down to 14 men for most of the second half.

Tigers controlled territory throughout and scored three tries from rolling mauls in a throwback to the club's glory day.

But they failed to find a bonus-point score - opting to kick a penalty for goal rather than back their maul again - and ended the match with 13 men.

In the penultimate minute Wasps wing Josh Bassett leapt to try to take a floated pass but was taken out by Liebenberg in the air.

Leicester director of rugby Steve Borthwick told BBC Radio Leicester:

"I think the players showed great character and worked exceptionally hard to come through some difficult times in the game and I thought the players managed going down to 14 men extremely well.

"The rules are clear and the referees have protocols to follow and we have to deal with that.

"In the Bath game on Friday and here it's very clear what's acceptable and what isn't. Player welfare has to be paramount."

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett:

"It's very disappointing; you're not going to win at Welford Road turning up like we did today.

"We couldn't win the gain line, we were losing collisions and then when we did have the ball, we came up with errors and never gained field position.

"They were in total control throughout but the positive is we'll have a reaction next week."

Leicester: Steward; Van Wyk, Moroni, Scott, Murimurivalu; Henry, Wigglesworth (capt); de Bruin, Montoya, Cole, Green, Lavanini, Liebenberg, Brink, Wiese.

Replacements: T Youngs, Leatigaga, Heyes, Wells, Reffell, Van Poortvliet, McPhillips, Kelly.

Wasps: Minozzi; Kibirige, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Bassett; Atkinson, Vellacott; West, Taylor, Brookes, Rowlands, Gaskell, Shields (capt), Morris, T Willis.

Replacements: Cruse, Harris, Toomaga-Allen, Douglas, Vailanu, Schwarz, Umaga Le Bourgeois.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU).

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