Wasps RFC 21 Leicester Tigers 26:

...Fourteen-man Tigers end Wasps' play-off hopes.

Fourteen-man Leicester boosted their hopes of an Aviva Premiership play-off place with a 26-21 win over rivals Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.

The Tigers, who had centre Seremaia Bai sent off at the end of the first half, outscored Wasps three tries to nil and moved up one place to third in the standings on 64 points.

Leicester led 18-12 at the break and staged a fabulous rearguard action after the break to hold on and even managed to score a third try through Adam Thompstone.

Niall Morris and Vereniki Goneva scored in the first half while Freddie Burns kicked 11 points in the match. Wasps fly-half Andy Goode kicked 18 of his side's points.

A 32,019 crowd - a record for the Aviva Premiership outside Twickenham and Wembley - crammed into the Ricoh Arena for a crucial match for both sides.

With only two play-off places left there was plenty at stake for fourth-placed Leicester and Wasps, who started the day just two places and three points behind.

The match had a cup final feel to it and it did not disappoint, a rip roaring first half swinging one way and then the other, Leicester turning round 18-12 up having scored two tries through Morris and Goneva.

Crucially, however, they had centre Bai sent off in the 45th minute of the half for hurtling into a ruck and catching Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes on the head.

Referee Wayne Barnes initially gave the Fijian a yellow card but changed it to a red after seeing the replay on the big screen. Hughes shook a fist in appreciation of the decision.

It was a huge blow for Leicester who shot out of the blocks and led 10-0 after just seven minutes, after fly-half Burns kicked a penalty and then converted a try in the left corner by full-back Morris.

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