Henry Paul was Gloucester's saviour as the runaway Zurich Premiership leaders were given a major fright before preserving their unbeaten home league record at a sold-out Kingsholm.

Gloucester, whose last home league defeat was against Leicester in September 2001, trailed Wasps three times before Paul turned match-winner.

The former rugby league star took over the kicking duties from French fly-half Ludovic Mercier, whose normally deadly accuracy deserted him.

Mercier missed four successive shots at goal following an early penalty strike. But Paul found the target on 56 and 78 minutes before diving over for an injury-time try to seal Gloucester's 11th Premiership win of the campaign.

Wasps fly-half Alex King landed his fourth penalty deep into stoppage time to secure a bonus point for the visitors, who will feel that the final scoreline was harsh on them.

Lock Mark Cornwell scored Gloucester's opening two tries either side of half-time, and with Paul hitting form the hosts eventually secured another victory to leave themselves eight points clear at the Premiership summit.

Wasps pushed them all the way, though - helped by fielding a full-strength team.

Wasps boss Warren Gatland, having announced a weakened so-called injury-hit side yesterday, ended up parading his big guns.

Mystery surrounds Gatland's initial announcement. But there were starting places for the likes of King, Rob Howley, Joe Worsley, Craig Dowd and Josh Lewsey - none of whom were in the original selection.

Mercier and King exchanged penalties during a scrappy opening. Then after Mercier had missed a long-range attempt at goal, King put Wasps in front before Lewsey departed with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Scottish international Kenny Logan.

Gloucester took an age to get going - not helped by Mercier's failings - but they eventually breached the Wasps defence in first-half injury time.

Cornwell emerged from a pile of bodies at a set scrum to give Gloucester an 8-6 interval lead.

But Wasps were back ahead within three minutes of the restart.

Gloucester wing Marcel Garvey was put under pressure, and visiting centre Fraser Waters charged down the former's attempted defensive clearance for an opportunist try.

Back came Gloucester with another Cornwell touchdown on 51 minutes after Wasps lost possession in midfield, but the visitors displayed their battling quality just moments later when a King penalty put Gloucester one point behind.

That was the cue for Paul, who has been criticised at times this season, to take centre stage.

His first penalty was a short-range job, as was his second two minutes from time - but they were priceless kicks from Gloucester's point of view.

Trailing 19-14, Wasps went flat out for a try during the closing minutes. But it was Gloucester who stung them in spectacular fashion.

Teams:

Gloucester: Paul, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Delport, Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Azam, Vickery, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Buxton, Paramore.

Not Used: Stuart-Smith, Amor, Beim, Caves, Molloy, Forrester, Eustace.

Tries: Cornwell 2, Paul.

Pens: Mercier, Paul 2.

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Rudd, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.

Not Used: Wood, Logan, Denney, Gotting, Scrivener, Kershaw, Purdy.

Tries: Waters.

Pens: A. King 4.

Att: 11,000

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (England).