English champions Wasps needed just two points from this third round Powergen Cup match to guarantee a place in the semi-finals - and they made it look so easy at the Causeway Stadium on Sunday.

Confident Wasps, unbeaten in their previous 12 home matches took the game to what resembled at best a Saracens A team.

Strutting down the right wing, centre Stuart Abbott made the running, his work completed by lock George Skivington who placed the ball down for a try to open the scoring in the second minute.

The home side went further ahead with another three points in the 10th minute with a penalty from fly-half Alex King.

Then a minute later they were taken by surprise by a surging Saracens pack down the left, with winger Paul Bailey notching up five points.

Pain showed on the face of Wasps flanker Tom Rees in the 25th minute - and he had to go off with a shoulder injury, to be replaced by Johnny O'Connor.

In the first minute of first-half injury-time Saracens centre Adam Powell used his boot to kick a drop goal from 30 metres to narrow the gap.

As the whistle for half-time was blown by referee Ashley Rowden, Wasps suffered their second injury when prop Peter Bracken was stretchered off for treatment to his leg.

Starting the second half with a slender 11-8 lead to the home side, they knew they had their work cut out against the Saracens youngsters - but King helped in the 42nd minute when he posted a 30-metre penalty kick.

Pressure from the Saracens side continued to force Wasps back, midway through the second half, much to the surprise of the 6,377 crowd, many of whom thought this game was a foregone conclusion.

There was even an admission from inside the away camp that this game meant little to them compared to the Heineken Cup.

Concern around the ground was growing until the 66th minute when winger Paul Sackey broke loose on the right to charge straight through the unsuspecting Saracens defence and score a much-needed try which was converted by King.

This was the point when the game showed signs of slipping away from the visitors as in the 70th minute they dropped down to 14 men when number eight Steffon Armitage was sin-binned.

A rejuvenated Wasps emerged as full-back Josh Lewsey scored a 72nd-minute try which was converted by King.

Keen to show their capabilities, Sackey scored his second try in the 75th minute, with King converting and Eoin Reddan crossing five minutes later - with King converting.