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Wasps survived a second-half fightback by Harlequins to grind out a 24-18 victory in the Guinness Premiership.

The home side took a handsome lead in the first half thanks to three penalties and two tries, one a penalty try and the other from Chris Bishay.

Yet Quins came out after the break and took the game to their hosts, scoring their own penalty try as well as another touchdown from Danny Care before the hosts went on to grind out a deserved win.

Wasps had taken charge of the game from the start, controlling both possession and territory to create pressure that led to a trio of penalties on six, 12 and 16 minutes.

Cipriani took all three opportunities, and then on 22 minutes converted a penalty try awarded by the referee for Harlequins wheeling the scrum on their own five-metre line.

Harlequins never got into the first half in any meaningful way, with their most promising move of the half - a run from a good line-out - turned over in the first available ruck by a rampant Wasps defence.

Wasps went in at half-time with a 21-3 lead, and it seemed Harlequins would be more focused on the possibility of a bonus-point defeat rather than a comeback.

However, the visitors re-entered the fray looking like a different team. Suddenly their defence was able to pin Wasps back, while their previously misfiring attacks began to find space and create opportunities.

When the visitors were awarded a penalty try on 53 minutes it was just reward for their efforts, and hope of a memorable fightback was sparked when Care's individual brilliance led to another Quins try on 65 minutes.

Taking the ball from the line-out, the scrum-half rounded four Wasps defenders - among them Danny Cipriani, who should have done better with his effort at a tackle - before chipping the last man and collecting the ball to score perhaps the best try of the weekend.

Wasps came back at their visitors but Harlequins maintained the pressure, and both sides notched late penalties to increase their tallies.

Yet despite the players' efforts - most notably a 20-phase attack by Harlequins in overtime - neither side could make any further breakthroughs, and Wasps finished off a hard-earned win.

Toby Keel / Eurosport