Wasps found a way to win on Sunday - but equally London Irish found a way to lose a game they so easily could've left the victors.

Rugby reporter Bobby Bridge was there at the Ricoh Arena as Wasps moved a step closer to securing an end-of-season play-off place, while the Exiles agonisingly saw their hopes of survival take a massive blow.

Here's the key things we learned from Wasps' 24-16 victory.

Sport is cruel

40 seconds. That's all it took for London Irish's dreams of a famous win at the Ricoh Arena to be reduced to rubble.

Tommy Bell lined up his conversion attempt after Petrus Du Plessis' try to give the Exiles a lead with less than five minutes remaining but pushed it well wide of the target. It surely would've knocked the stuffing out of Wasps with such little time remaining.

Catch, contain, count down the clock.

Irish claimed the kick-off, James Marshall dithered and Tom Cruse extended his arms to charge down the clearance kick before skilfully prodding into the in-goal area and sliding over to score. Heartbreak.

To compound the misery, Danny Cipriani nudged over the extras to move Wasps two scores ahead and deny Irish the consolation of a losing bonus point.

From four points to none in under a minute. Premiership survival hopes reignited to being extinguished.

it's the kind of luck sides suffer when at the bottom as Nick Kennedy held his head in his hands in crushing disbelief.

Tom Cruse of Wasps scores his second try during the Aviva Premiership match between Wasps and London Irish at The Ricoh Arena

Weakness identified

London Irish arrived with a gameplan to kick for territory and push for penalties, kick to the corner and rumble. To an extent, it worked. Their two tries came from forward drives with Dave Porecki and Du Plessis grabbing going over.

Given Wasps had conceded from this method against both Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester in recent weeks, it was understandable why the Exiles targeted this area of the black-and-golds' game.

However, on two occasions in the first half, kickable penalties were turned down in favour of a dab to the corner and Wasps held firm. Given Wasps only went in at the interval with a seven-point lead, it could've been a one-point ball game had the Exiles opted for shots at goal.

The longer a side sits on zero points, the more the pressure builds and, on reflection, I'm sure the Exiles will rue not having a shot with at least one of those opportunities.

Wasps looked vulnerable to driving maul tries on Sunday with both Exiles scores having an air of inevitability about them.

It's a perfect example of a discipline of the game that requires high-intensity starting XV training that Dai Young's side has lacked in recent weeks due to squad availability issues and poor weather conditions.

Credit must be given to London Irish for the two tries they did get over the line, with the thrust being well-marshalled from the tail.

Johnny Williams of London Irish attempts to move between Danny Cipriani and Tom Cruse of Wasps

Gopperth's got drive

It's not a unqiue site for a seasoned Wasps fan to see Jimmy Gopperth racing into the back of a rolling maul to add his strength and impetus.

The 11th minute driving maul that saw Tom Cruse go over for his first try had barely edged over the gain line when the New Zealander raced in from his centre berth to push the hooker in-field. The forwards laid the foundations for the spiral towards the line but the crucial shift of direction was initiated by Gopperth.

Defying the shirt number on his back, Gopperth identifies when that extra thrust is needed to assist the forwards. Often when your head is down driving, it's hard to know where the maul is rumbling and from his vantage point in the backs, the former Leinster man has the experience and vision to steer attacks home.

The in-field movement of the maul also made Cipriani's conversion that little bit easier as he confidently knocked over the extras.

Making your own luck

Much of the post-match talk was about the better side losing, and it's hard to argue against that summary.

But on analysis of this game, London Irish will highlight some key moments that cost them a priceless victory. I've already mentioned not taking points in the first-half, but another is the sin-binning of hooker David Paice.

Wasps number eight Guy Thompson's fourth-minute chip straight down the throat of London Irish's backs provided no threat, only for Paice to line-up the Leicester Tigers-bound back rower for a late hit and earn himself a yellow card.

Referee Tom Foley showed lenience to not sin bin Aseli Tikoirotuma for his tackle on Willie Le Roux in the air just 30 seconds previously, the 34-year-old Exiles veteran probably paid the price for the indiscretions coming so close together.

Six minutes later, Paice's opposite number goes over for a try from a rolling maul.

Both Tikoirotuma and Paice's challenges warranted yellow cards and handed Wasps the advantage needed to open the scoring on a day when points were going to be at a premium with the rain lashing down.

Christian Wade of Wasps
Christian Wade of Wasps

Points win prizes

Okay, the above sound bite isn't a revelation, but you only need look over the weekend's Aviva Premiership games to further underline how important it is to have one, or even two, specialist kickers in your armoury.

Gloucester managed four tries against Newcastle Falcons, but couldn't convert any of them and fell to a single-point defeat.

Exiles missed out on 10 points through wayward kicks at goal and lost by a margin of eight.

Meanwhile, Danny Cipriani quietly went about his business, kicking all three tries and a penalty for a priceless nine-point haul - remember that winning margin once more.

To have Jimmy Gopperth waiting in the wings and Elliot Daly's booming boot hopefully back at Wasps' disposal before the end of the month, Dai Young's side has options aplenty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.