London Irish maintained their unbeaten home record at the Madejski Stadium, seeing off a depleted Wasps by just one point.

The Exiles, who have won all seven of their games at their new home, scored just one try and kicked three penalties to clinch victory by the skin of their teeth.

The result was a major blow for Nigel Melville's title-chasing Wasps.

The Loftus Road outfit were trailing league leaders Leicester by six points heading into the match, but the defeat now means they drop further off the pace.

The game was far from an exciting encounter between the two one-time London rivals.

The deadlock was broken - after a penalty each - when London Irish captain Ofisa Tonu'u scored a 20th-minute try.

The Western Samoan scrum-half sneaked left of a ruck on Wasps' goalline following a consistent display of pressure from the home side to touch down.

But Wasps' Trevor Leota, replacing injured England international Phil Greening in the number two shirt, then matched the Exiles' effort with a 37th-minute try.

Scottish winger Kenny Logan converted after an earlier missed penalty attempt to take Wasps into the lead for the first time.

But then the tables turned again after the break.

Wasps were sorely missing the likes of Greening, Simon Shaw and Peter Scrivener - while Barry Everett was as consistent as ever with the boot.

It was in fact the fly-half's two crucial penalties to Logan's one in an uneventful second half that secured Irish their victory.

Teams:

London Irish: Cunningham, Sackey, Matson, Wright, Bishop,Everitt, Tonu'u, Worsley, Alexopoulous, Hardwick, Fahrensohn, Delaney, Bates, Allen, Sheasby.

Replacements: Hatley for Worsley (59), Williams for Delaney (49), Halvey for Bates (68).

Not Used: Campbell, Ashforth, Ezulike, Flavin.

Sin Bin: Bates (48).

Tries: Tonu'u.

Pens: Everitt 3.

Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Logan, King, Wood,Molloy, Leota, Green, Reed, Beardshaw, Dallaglio, Volley, Worsley.

Replacements: Sampson for Roiser (43), Birkett for Reed (77).

Not Used: Bijon, Scrase, Lock, Macer, Le Chevalier.

Sin Bin: Worsley (52).

Att: 5,290

Ref: John Barnard (RFU).

Tries: Leota.

Cons: Logan.

Pens: Logan 2.

Zurich man of the match: Ofisa Tonu'u