A Tom Voyce hat-trick earned London Wasps a home playoff semi-final against Bath but their celebrations were muted after wing Paul Sackey left the ground on crutches.

Sackey, rated the best wing in Europe by Wasps coach Shaun Edwards, is extremely doubtful for the Bath game and if medial ligament damage is shown on an urgent scan he requires, England’s summer tour to New Zealand will be out of the question.

Sackey said: “It looks as if I’ve damaged the medial ligament but I will have to wait and see what the medical people say.”

It’s a serious blow for a Wasps side that has negotiated three games in a week and now needs to hold an urgent medical roll call before a hugely physical clash with Bath.

Sackey hurt his right knee making a last-ditch tackle in the 13th minute, and soldiered on for three more minutes before exiting. His loss was keenly felt by Wasps, who needed until the 49th minute to secure the bonus-point try from hooker Raphaël Ibanez which allowed them to relax in the heat.

Leeds, doomed well before this match to relegation, fought tenaciously but had no answer to a 24-point burst from Wasps either side of half-time.

Wasps, showing the effects of so many games in such a short time, were 9-0 down after 16 minutes thanks to three Alberto Di Bernardo penalties before Voyce raced in for his first. The left-wing is crucial to Wasps’ playoff chances and could force his way into the England reckoning for New Zealand if Sackey is badly hurt.

Wasps missed the foraging of flanker Tom Rees, who was rested, along with Danny Cipriani, who has been battling the effects of a virus and only made a five-minute cameo replacement late on.

With Wasps running in six tries, Leeds had every reason to throw in the towel but showed tremendous heart to leave departing director of rugby Stuart Lancaster proud of his men. Lancaster said: “I’m very pleased with the way the guys performed. They stuck at it and are in great shape to bounce straight back.”

For Wasps, it’s all about their favourite part of the season – the playoffs – and yet another opportunity to become the Premiership champions in a season that saw them bottom midway through October before their legion of World Cup stars returned. Now it’s a case of how many are still fit.

Serge Betsen, the French flanker, is to sign for Wasps. The 34-year-old Biarritz star, who has 63 caps and a reputation for destructive tackling, had planned to retire but will now extend his career at the club which in 2005 cited him for a trip that broke the leg of Stuart Abbott.

Star man: Tom Voyce (Wasps)

Leeds: L Hinton; S Armstrong (J Hepworth 20min), R Vickerman, J Holtby, T Biggs; A Di Bernardo, J Bedford (D Edwards 40min); M MacDonald, V Ma’asi (R Rawlinson 62min), T McGee (A Hopcroft 62min), S Hooper (capt), K Myall, J Dunbar (P Bouza 55min), A Balding (M Lock 45min), H Fourie
Wasps: M van Gisbergen; P Sackey (J Lewsey 16min), F Waters, R Flutey, T Voyce; J Staunton, E Reddan (M McMillan 45min); T French (T Payne 40min), R Ibanez (J Ward 54min, D Cipriani 75min), M Holford, S Shaw (R Birkett 60min), T Palmer, J Worsley (R Webber 62min), L Dallaglio (capt), J Haskell

Scorers:
Leeds: Tries: Biggs, Hepworth, Fourie; Cons: Di Bernardo (2); Pens: Di Bernardo (3)
Wasps: Tries: Voyce (3), Waters, Ibanez, Ward; Cons: Staunton (6); Pen: Staunton
Referee: A Small (RFU)
Attendance: 7,842