Bassett hounds route to the final

JOSH BASSETT’S late try sent Wasps into their first Aviva Premiership final for nine years.

Jimmy Gopperth and Willie Le Roux sent Bassett into the corner with two minutes to play to end the Leicester’s stubborn resistance.

Wasps will face Exeter in next weekend’s Premiership final, returning to the league’s Twickenham trophy showdown for the first time since 2008.

Kurtley Beale, who later limped off with a leg problem, grabbed Wasps’ first score but Leicester drew level at 13-13 courtesy of Peter Betham’s score.

Telusa Veainu’s second-half try for the Tigers left the home side throwing everything at a recovery, with Bassett (above) just finding time to turn the tide.

Wasps quickly turned a catch-and-drive into a nifty finish, Beale and Le Roux conjuring up a sumptuous one-two for the game’s first try.

Gopperth added the conversion to his second-minute penalty, leaving Wasps 10-0 up inside 10 minutes.

Two quickfire Freddie Burns penalties and a reply from the tee from Gopperth put the hosts 13-6 ahead in the second PHIL GIRVAN Wasps 21 Leicester 20 quarter but finally the Tigers’ backline purred.

Burns’ classy pass proved enough to catch Christian Wade in no-man’s land and send wing Betham in at the left corner.

Burns’ conversion locked the scores at 13-13 and so it stayed when Gopperth struck the right-hand post.

The Kiwi marksman slotted his third penalty of the half shortly afterwards to hand Wasps a 16-13 lead at the break. Brendon O’Connor then powered close and when the Tigers whipped the ball wide, Wasps simply ran out of cover.

Veainu cantered home with Burns’ conversion edging the visitors into a 20-16 lead.

But just when they feared losing their chance to steal victory, Wasps stole possession and sneaked home as Le Roux and Gopperth combined to send replacement wing Bassett into the corner.

Gopperth slipped on impact as he struck the conversion wide, setting up a nervy final minute.

But Wasps ground down the time, sealing safe passage to the final.