They may have been dominant domestically but Leicester Tigers' claim to be the leading side in English rugby was wrecked as Wasps regained their status as champions of Europe at Twickenham yesterday.

Confused by the swarming intensity of what confronted them, their bid for an unprecedented treble was first weakened then mercilessly killed off by these most venomous of adversaries - who claimed afterwards that this had always been their season's target.

Both of his side's previous trophy wins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the English Premiership this season had been achieved at this venue, but Pat Howard, Leicester's out-going coach, made a pained exit from English rugby's headquarters with London pride reasserted.

He and his men were out-smarted and while most of the credit must go to Shaun Edwards, Wasps head coach, it was a match that will also doubtless add to the reputation of former Scotland coach Ian McGeechan, the club's director of rugby.

For that he can thank the astonishing defensive regime established by Edwards - with whom he was celebrating on the touchline before the game finished - and the astuteness of his players, in particular Raphael Ibanez, the French international captain.

Wasps had to make twice as many tackles as their opponents in the first half, while Alex King missed four of five kicking attempts, yet they were still ahead at the interval.

In sticky conditions, which were glorious for spectating but sapping for the players, they showed they had turned the disadvantage of being without games in the previous fortnight, after failing to reach the English Premiership play-offs, to their benefit. They opened the scoring with King's only success but it was cancelled out immediately by Andy Goode.

Then came the first truly significant moment as Eoin Reddan, two-try hero of their quarter-final win over Leinster, raced to the front of a lineout to accept gleefully Ibanez's pass and scamper some 20 metres untouched down the left touchline.

If that was dopey defending by Leicester then the grin on Ibanez's face said it all when he realised they had left the same channel wide open as he prepared to deliver another throw on the opposite flank. Simon Shaw took the pass and with a straightforward two on one returned it to France's captain to send him over.

Had King been on top form with the boot, Wasps might have been in complete control before half-time. Neither the conversion attempts, or a penalty effort from wide which hit the post and a long-range chance which dropped short, were easy, but a drop goal shot was also wayward.

Meanwhile, Goode who had hit the target for a second time immediately after the first try, made it three out of three from wide on the right two minutes into injury time to keep his side within range at 13-9 down.

But the lead was extended to seven points just a minute after the resumption when King was given an easier task from in front of the posts as Alesana Tuilagi - for the third time - was penalised for failing to release in the tackle.

In no-one more than the player who had looked unstoppable in the Premiership final against Gloucester eight days earlier, was the intensity of Wasps' defence exposing weakness.

When Goode then sliced what looked a straightforward penalty chance after Wasps yet again infringed, Howard began to look uneasy on their touchline, and with good reason.

Tuilagi came close to losing his cool when penalised for being offside at a ruck and was marched back 10m.

King now found his range and with the influence that the Wasps defence brings to proceedings a 10-point lead now looked imposing.

Another lineout brought another line break, as Joe Worsley fed Tom Voyce and while the chance to put in Ibanez was this time spurned, an easy drop goal opportunity was crafted for Goode.

With more than a quarter of the game remaining the contest was pretty much over since it was inconceivable that Leicester could score the two tries required.

Their disarray was highlighted by unimaginable sights such as them turning ball over two metres from the opposition line, throwing it around recklessly inside their own half and firing panicky passes when they did break.

When at last they put a move together and sent Tuilagi away on the left he was thwarted inside the 22 and James Haskell, who had turned the quarter-final against Leinster and again made a dynamic impact as a replacement, was haring 90 metres downfield.

He too was stopped short, but a penalty was conceded, allowing King to spark those early celebrations because three scores clear, with the match in injury time, the Wasps bench knew that even Leicester could not come back.