Alex King kicked Wasps to a narrow victory over Ulster which put a dent in the Irish side's Heineken Cup dreams in pool two at Loftus Road on Sunday.

King kicked five penalties and three conversions as Wasps - already out of the competition - avenged October's 42-19 humiliation in Ireland.

With only a minute played Ulster opened the scoring with a long-range penalty from fly-half David Humphreys but two minutes later his opposite number King levelled the scores with a penalty from 22 metres.

Fired-up Ulster relied heavily on Humphreys and in the eighth minute his penalty attempt sailed to the right of the upright, although he made amends seven minutes later with a powerful penalty from 30 metres.

Wasps, depleted by injuries but looking dangerous, made the breakthrough in the 16th minute with captain Mark Denney scoring a try on the right, converted by King.

Humphreys as taken off injured shortly after seeing a long-range penalty land in the arms of Wasps hooker Trevor Leota.

However, full-back Paddy Wallace had better luck after 22 minutes, pulling the Irish back into contention.

The scores did not stay close for long though as King slammed through a close-range penalty in the 24th minute.

Putting the Londoners further ahead in the 30th minute King sent through another successful penalty.

After a running the length of the pitch, Wasps winger Shane Roiser collected the ball in the 33rd minute and crashed over for a try, converted by King.

And King increased Wasps' advantage with his fourth penalty of the afternoon in the 40th minute. But in first-half injury time Wallace kicked a penalty to cut the half-time deficit to 26-12.

Centre Fraser Waters extended Wasps' lead when he intercepted a Wallace pass to touch down, with King converting.

A determined Wallace lobbed through his third penalty of the afternoon in the 53rd minute.

Ulster broke down the left in the 57th minute with Ulster skipper Andy Ward claiming a try and Wallace converting as the Irish desperately looked for a way back into the match.

In the 63rd minute Ulster charged down the field with Ryan Constable taking on the try-scoring duties, leaving Wallace to convert and close the gap to just four points.

The home side were reduced to 14 men following the sin-binning of lock Ian Jones in the 70th minute and a minute later Wallace scored a drop goal.

But two minutes from time King secured victory for the English side, slotting home a short-range penalty.

Teams:

Wasps: Leek, Roiser, Waters, Denney, Roberts, A. King, Wood, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Jones, Beardshaw, Volley, Lock.

Replacements: Mackenzie for Shaw (75).

Not Used: Burrill, Barratt, Scrase, Allen, S. Green.

Sin Bin: Jones (70).

Tries: Denney, Roiser, Waters.

Cons: A. King 3.

Pens: A. King 5.

Ulster: Wallace, Coulter, Larkin, J. Bell, Howe, Humphreys, Doak, Fitzpatrick, Shields, Best, Johns, Longwell, McWhirter, Ward, Nelson.

Replacements: Constable for Larkin (53), B. Cunningham for Humphreys (40), Crick for Shields (62), Davidson for Longwell (53), McMillen for McWhirter (59).

Not Used: K. Campbell, Boyd.

Tries: Ward, Constable.

Cons: Wallace 2.

Pens: Humphreys 2, Wallace 3.

Drop Goals: Wallace.

Att: 5,959

Ref: G Morandin (Italy).