LONDON Irish’s miserable Aviva Premiership campaign ended with a disappointing 38-12 defeat at Wasps, writes Richard Ashton.

Tom Coventry’s relegated Exiles showed plenty of fight in the opening quarter, restricting their high-flying hosts to a pair of Ruaridh Jackson penalties.

And things got better for Irish when outstanding young centre Johnny Williams – one of the few bright spots during the season – barrelled his way over under the posts before fellow teenager Theo Brophy-Clews added the extras to put the visitors 7-6 in front.

However, Wasps hit back almost immediately as Thomas Young went over off the back of a powerful rolling maul, am attacking method Exiles have repeatedly been unable to negate this season. Jackson missed the conversion but Wasps were 11-7 in front.

The hosts effectively put the game to bed with two more tries before the interval.

Firstly, rampaging man-of-the-match Ashley Johnson wreaked havoc, brushing off three Irish defenders before finally being hauled down five metres short of the try line. However, Wasps swiftly spread the ball wide and Charles Piutau went over.

Things got worse for the visitors as Ofisa Treviranus was sin-binned, and Wasps extended their lead when a beautiful Elliott Daly pass allowed wing Christian Wade to scorch over in the corner. Neither conversion was landed but the hosts had control of the game at half time, leading 21-7.

London Irish gave themselves hope early in the second half when a neat Brophy-Clews chip was collected by Alex Lewington, and he crossed to narrow the deficit to 21-12.

However, that was as good as it got for the basement boys as Wasps ran in three further tries courtesy of Dan Robson, Josh Bassett and Johnson to seal an emphatic win, with Luke Narraway’s sin-binning capping another miserable day for London Irish.