Though far from their best, Wasps had too much class for Waterloo in their Tetley's Bitter Cup fifth round clash at Loftus Road on Sunday. The 27-10 victory set up a mouth-watering quarter-final encounter with London Irish at the end of the month which could well see a record crowd for a rugby match at Loftus Road.

Gareth Rees did sterling service for Wasps when he pulled them out of the hat first during Monday's draw.

The two clubs met at the same stage last season and Wasps' 41-7 win at Sunbury that sent them on the way to a final encounter with Saracens, who took the trophy, was one of their most impressive of the campaign. It's the only cup meeting ever between the two sides.

Back in September, Wasps took both league points with a 36-24 win at Sunbury.

Since then, the Exiles have been greatly transformed through some high quality southern hemisphere imports such as ex-All Black fly-half Steve Bachop, that has turned them into a very effective outfit under Dick Best's astute coaching.

They are the form horses of English rugby with 10 wins out of their last 11 games which has taken them to third place in the Allied Dunbar League's Premier Division and into the last eight of the cup with a hugely impressive 21-6 victory over Northampton at Franklin Gardens on Saturday.

Wasps supremo Nigel Melville is delighted with the home draw. "We're looking forward to it and given the fact that they are in such good form at the moment, we start underdogs."

He added: "However, we don't mind that at all."

Against Waterloo, things began well for Wasps when Laurence Dallaglio, looking sharp and hungry after a four-week lay-off, pierced the visitors' defence in a strong run to open the scoring.

Waterloo got down to tackling in earnest and, allied to Wasps' lack of urgency, this prevented the floodgates opening.

A long-range drop goal by Tony Handley opened Waterloo's account.

Wasps struck again when good pressure by the forwards, with Dallaglio again prominent, set up Darren Molloy.

Wasps thought they had scored a third try when Dino Alexopoulos crossed, but an eagle-eyed judge spoted an off-the-ball incident and as Kenny Logan lined up the conversion, referee Mr Piercey disallowed the try.

Ahead 12-3 at half time, Wasps looked more positive after the break, soon scoring again.

Good handling, with nearly every Wasps player getting a touch, ended with a try by skipper Mark Wheedon.

Soon after, a good forward squeeze brought a pushover try for No 8 Peter Scrivener.

The final 15 minutes might have been interesting if the Liverpool side had scored again quickly. But Wheedon's men went straight back on the offensive and Mike Friday pounced to make the final tally five tries to one.

Wasps return to Allied Dunbar (Premier Division) action on Sunday when they take on Bath at Loftus Road (kick-off 2.30pm).

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