Wasps continued their Zurich Premiership recovery with a fine 17-6 victory over Northampton on Saturday.

Lawrence Dallaglio was sin-binned for improper behaviour in the ruck in the 71st minute of their Zurich Premiership clash against Northampton at Loftus Road.

Referee Dave Pearson gave the Wasps skipper his marching orders after blocking the ball, but it was an ironic decision against Dallaglio who had seen Northampton escape punishment earlier.

Saints fly-half Paul Grayson opened the scoring in only the second minute with a successful penalty kick from 26 metres.

His opposite number, Alex King, kicked the equaliser 16 minutes later.

Lobbing the ball through the uprights at close range, King stretched the home side's lead by three points in the 22nd minute with a penalty.

A minute into injury time in the first half saw a skirmish between Dallaglio and Matt Dawson. Most of the crowd expected to see the Northampton scrum-half sin-binned.

Referee Pearson did not take any action, but Wasps responded with a powerful long-range penalty kick from winger Kenny Logan.

With one minute into the second half Grayson scored his second successful penalty of the afternoon.

Putting through a curling penalty in the 51st minute, King made up for Logan's failure to score with a long-range effort five minutes earlier.

From a line-out, lock Simon Shaw placed the ball down over the line in the 59th minute but King was unable to convert.

Teams:

Wasps: Sampson, Roiser, Lewsey, Denney, Logan, A. King, Wood, Dowd, Leota, S. Green, Shaw, Jones, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.

Replacements: Leek for A. King (80), Friday for Wood (80), Barratt for Leota (80), Mackenzie for S. Green (61).

Not Used: Abbott, Lock, Beardshaw.

Sin Bin: Dallaglio (72).

Tries: Shaw.

Pens: A. King 3, Logan.

Northampton: Beal, Moir, Tucker, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Phillips, Brouzet, Hunter, Pountney, Soden.

Replacements: Brooks for Cohen (50), Shaw for Grayson (57), Richmond for Thompson (59), Todd for Morris (61).

Not Used: Brenton, Miles, Malone.

Pens: Grayson 2.

Att: 6,133

Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).