The game was delayed for ten minutes and it took a little time for both teams to settle when it resumed.

But after a tentative beginning the match sparked into life when Barry Davies broke through some flimsy tackling, arced around Mark van Gisbergen and scored a superb individual try in the right hand corner.

Mike Hercus added the conversion for Llanelli, but the American was unable to find the target with two penalty attempts in a three minute period. The second attempt shaved an upright and bounced out.

Wasps squandered a try-scoring opportunity when prop Ali McKenzie was unable to make the most of an overlap, his pass missing the support runners and dribbling into touch.

Van Gisbergen trimmed the deficit when Llanelli were penalised for slowing down the release of the ball in a ruck. But that penalty goal was swiftly cancelled out when Wasps were pulled up for a similar offence and Hercus found the target.

Play was delayed for a further five minutes when Easterby became the second player to be taken off on a stretcher when he was flattened attempting to tackle van Gisbergen. Easterby had recovered sufficiently by half time to watch the second half from the Llanelli bench.

Wasps were reduced to 14 men for ten minutes when McKenzie was sin-binned for killing the ball. But it did not prevent them for pulling level.

Staunton intercepted Clive Stuart-Smith’s pass and although he did not quite have the pace to finish off, Voyce arrived in support to take the pass and touch down. Van Gisbergen added the equalising conversion.

Wasps threatened again but Voyce knocked on with what proved to be the final attack of a stop-start first half.

An eventful game continued when Irish referee Alan Lewis did not reappear for the second half having pulled a calf muscle. He was replaced by his compatriot Simon McDowell with Wayne Barnes, one of the RFU’s full-time referees, taking over as touch judge.

Wasps missed the chance to go into the lead for the first time when van Gisbergen dragged a penalty attempt left of the posts after Llanelli winger Mark Jones was penalised for not releasing the tackler.

But it was not a costly lapse for Wasps who weathered another Llanelli attack then stormed in front with a superb second try from Voyce.

The try was made by  Abbott who used his strength to shrug off a first-up tackle and his pace to accelerate away. Abbott drew the final line of defence before he off-loaded inside to Voyce who went over under the posts to leave van Gisbergen with an easy conversion.

Steady rain produced difficult conditions but it did not deter Davies from attempting a 60 metres penalty from inside his own half which, predictably, fell short.

Llanelli brought on Vernon Cooper as a replacement midway through the second half but the lock immediately gave away the penalty which van Gisbergen slotted to give Wasps a ten points advantage.

Wasps were able to play clever percentage rugby thereafter, with Alex King and van Gisbergen pinning Llanelli in their own half and King putting the issue beyond doubt when he landed a 76th minute drop goal.

Van Gisbergen’s penalty with the very last kick of the match embellished Wasps’ victory.

London Wasps: Mark van Gisbergen; Paul Sackey, Josh Lewsey, Stuart Abbott, Tom Voyce; Jeremy Staunton, Eoin Reddan; Ali McKenzie, Raphael Ibanez, Tim Payne, Simon Shaw, Richard Birkett, Joe Worsley, Jonny O’Connor, Lawrence Dallaglio (captain). Replacements used: Joe Ward, Peter Bracken, Dan Leo, Matt Dawson, Alex King.

Llanelli Scarlets: Barry Davies; Mark Jones, Matthew Watkins, Regan King, Dafydd James; Mike Hercus, Clive Stuart-Smith; Phil John, Matthew Rees, John Davies, Inoke Afeaki, Adam Jones, Simon Easterby (captain), Gavin Thomas, Alix Popham. Replacements used: Dafydd Jones, Martyn Madden, Vernon Cooper, Aled Gravelle.

Referee: Mr Alan Lewis (Ireland). Replaced by Mr Simon McDowell (Ireland) at half-time.