The one club guaranteed to bring the best out of London Wasps is Leicester and, at Welford Road last night, they duly discovered their best form of the season. The champions claimed their third successive victory over the Midlanders, terminating their unbeaten record and breaking their Guinness Premiership duck.

Not for 23 years have Wasps scored three wins on the trot against Leicester but a try by Damien Varley, the Munsterman on trial at Acton, rounded off the wonderful goalkicking of another Irishman, Jeremy Staunton. The fly half scored 23 points from eight kicks but also kept his side going forward in a second half made controversial when the loss of two Wasps props led to uncontested scrums.

The contrast in fortunes this season between the clubs who have commanded the heights of domestic rugby over the past decade could hardly have been greater. Wasps may have won the previous two meetings, but not only did they start the match second from bottom of the table, they lost Tim Payne, the England prop, from their starting lineup after an injury in the team run yesterday morning.

None of which seemed to matter once the sparring began in earnest. As has happened all too often this season, the bright intentions of the opening minutes settled into a kicking duel.

Though Leicester dominated in terms of territory and possession, first blood went to Wasps when Leicester conceded a free kick at the first scrum then a penalty at the ensuing ruck, which Staunton kicked from 41 metres. Within three minutes, Leicester were level, within eight they were ahead, Toby Flood kicking penalties each from more than 40 metres.

Such adventure as there was came from the likes of Tom Croft and Jordan Crane but the tackling on both sides was so fierce that space was at a premium. Staunton drew Wasps level with his second penalty and Flood could be excused for sending a 50-metre effort just wide.

Leicester, though, broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time. Forcing a scrum 15 metres from the Wasps line, Johne Murphy came from the blind-side wing to take a slipped pass from Aaron Mauger and cross untouched, Flood adding the conversion. It was a reflection of growing dominance, and though Wasps promptly forced a five-metre scrum of their own, after five resets, Leicester - with Dan Cole, 21, making his first Premiership start at prop - claimed first a turnover, then a penalty.

Leicester’s desire to build on the lead after the interval did not prosper initially, since they dropped the restart and then conceded a penalty in front of the posts. But Staunton’s success was promptly cancelled out by Flood’s third penalty, again from the restart.

There was, though, an increased steeliness about the Wasps approach, greater variety to their game which was rewarded when Staunton dropped a 35-metre goal with the referee playing advantage. Mauger tried a similar attempt and missed, Wasps came again through Staunton’s second dropped goal, reducing the lead to a single point. Phil Vickery departed, holding his ribs, and Leicester called for the experience of Ben Kay and Julian White from the bench. Within a minute, White was embroiled off the ball with Mark Robinson, players from both sides joining the fray, and when Wasps were given the penalty Staunton pushed Wasps ahead.

Flood, from 47 metres, recovered the lead but back came Staunton with his seventh successful kick. The pendulum swung even more to the visiting team when Varley was judged to have scored under the posts.

Scorers: Leicester: Try: J Murphy (34min). Conversion: Flood. Penalty goals: Flood 4 (6, 11, 44, 63).

London Wasps: Try: Varley (69). Conversion: Staunton. Penalty goals: Staunton 5 (3, 13, 42, 56, 66). Dropped goals: Staunton 2 (47, 51).

Scoring sequence (Leicester first): 0-3, 3-3, 6-3, 6-6, 13-6 (half-time), 13-9, 16-9, 16-12, 16-15, 16-18, 19-18, 19-21, 19-28

Leicester: G Murphy; T Varndell, M Smith (rep: A Erinle, 69), A Mauger, J Murphy; T Flood, J Dupuy; M Ayerza, B Kayser, D Cole (rep: J White, 54; rep: G Chuter, 66), M Corry, M Wentzel (rep: B Kay, 54), T Croft, B Woods (rep: B Herring, 58), J Crane.

London Wasps: T Voyce; P Sackey, D Waldouck, R Flutey, J Lewsey; J Staunton, M Robinson (rep: E Reddan, 56); P Vickery (rep: T French, 15-17, 51), R Webber, P Barnard (rep: D Varley, 58), R Birkett, T Palmer, J Worsley, T Rees, J Hart.

Referee: W Barnes. Attendance: 17,498.