Premiership: Exeter 26-27 Wasps - Paolo Odogwu's stoppage-time try steals victory

Paolo Odogwu won it with his second try of the game in added time at Sandy Park

Wasps completed an astonishing comeback to beat Exeter at Sandy Park for only the second time in 15 attempts through Paolo Odogwu's stoppage-time try.

The Chiefs looked comfortable after first-half tries from Tom O'Flaherty, Lewis Pearson and Jack Innard followed by Richard Capstick's early second-half try earned them a 26-8 lead.

But England lock Joe Launchbury and flanker Alfie Barbeary both crossed.

And Odogwu, who had earlier scored the opening try, had the final word.

Deep into added time, after keeping hold of the ball for more than seven minutes in a disciplined show of sustained pressure, winger Odogwu got in at the corner to steal a bonus-point victory.

Exeter, who lost a third successive Premiership game, were left with the consolation of just two bonus points, having also scored four tries.

• Gopperth and Fekitoa to leave Wasps at end of season

Wasps were largely outplayed and it took an amazing effort to win, having trailed by 11 points with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

At 26-15 ahead after 72 minutes, Exeter should have won it when centre Tom Hendrickson reached out for the line and appeared to have scored the clinching try.

But referee Wayne Barnes opted to go to the TV monitor and adjudged that Hendrickson had lost control of the ball in the act of touching down.

Barbeary's try, which appeared to have done no more than earn Wasps a losing bonus point, was followed by a 35-phase move that ended with Odogwu going over six minutes after the countdown clock had reached zero.

The hosts, weakened by international calls, had made seven changes - and contained only four players who had started last month's thumping European Champions Cup victory over Glasgow.

Wasps, by contrast, had Barbeary starting at number eight after being released by England - and, after an injury-ravaged season, they began the day with their treatment room reduced to just nine absentees, their lowest missing head count of the season.

But they did lose skipper Launchbury two matches into his comeback, and then also Malakai Fekitoa, on his first start since September, and Brad Shields in the second half.

Chiefs flanker Lewis Pearson scored his first try for the club to help build an 18-point lead which the hosts would ultimately relinquish

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter:

"If we had been behind and battled back to take two losing bonus points, we would not have been disappointed. We were without a number of players and had some pulling out the day before the game.

"It meant we had only props and hookers covering forward positions on the bench which reduced our options, but we were within a disallowed try of winning.

"I am frustrated at the result but pleased with the performance. Young players like Dafydd Jenkins and Santiago Grondona showed up really well and while it feels like a loss now, there is a lot for us to take from the game.

"You have to give credit to Wasps because they kept going until the end."

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett:

"We were second best for most of the match, but the players showed great character and our bench made a big difference.

"The turning point was their disallowed try eight minutes from time. Until then, we had been second-best physically, but the momentum turned and it is a big five points for us.

"It takes us above Exeter in the table and will give us confidence going forward. I am delighted with the result even if the performance gives us room for improvement.

"Joe Launchbury took a knock to his face, Brad Shields had a stinger and Malakai Fekitoa had a bang on his ribs. I hope it is nothing serious because we have a big run of matches coming up."

Exeter: Hodge; Woodburn, Hendrickson, H Skinner, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds (capt), S Maunder; Hepburn, Innard, Schickerling, Kirsten, Jenkins, Pearson, Capstick, Grondona.

Replacements: Yeandle, Moon, Iosefa-Scott, Kenny, Norey, Hidalgo-Clyne, O'Brien, Cordero.

Wasps: Watson; Odogwu, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; West, Cruse, Alo, Launchbury (capt), Stooke, Fifita, Shields, Barbeary.

Replacements: Oghre, Hislop, Millar-Mills, Gaskell, Morris, Porter, Spink, Miller.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).

• Rugby Weekly Union podcast - listen and subscribe here