NICK Kennedy was left ruing 'fine margins' after London Irish were edged out 17-13 by Wasps in their Aviva Premiership encounter at Madejski Stadium on Sunday, writes Richard Ashton.

An Alex Lewington try and eight points from the boot of Tommy Bell had fired Exiles into a 13-5 lead on the hour mark, but tries from Josh Bassett and Nizaam Carr left basement boys Irish with just a losing bonus-point.

It was the second week in a row the hosts had been beaten by just four points, and Irish's Director of Rugby Kennedy admitted: "I was really pleased with the effort. Our boys worked extremely hard and it's fine margins.

"There was one score in it and it's a little error from us or a bit of brilliance from them which proved the difference.

"They're one of the best attacking teams in the league and for the majority of the game we defended against them very well."

Referencing the previous week's 22-18 defeat to Bath, Kennedy added: "Last week was more disappointing because we were on the wrong end of a lot of calls so I was very, very frustrated, angry and disappointed."

With Worcester having shocked Leicester 31-27 on Saturday, London Irish now find themselves five points adrift at the foot of the table.

But Kennedy said: "We're running our own race and we don't really look at them and their games. We look at how we can play better and who we're going to play next.

“There is a clear improvement on the things that we’ve been working on and we’re certainly moving in the right direction.”

Fly half Bell concurred with Kennedy, adding: "It came down to a bit of brilliance from Wasps, it wasn't really mistakes from us.

"They have got some great attacking players and late on in the game they found a few weak spots and they took their chances clinically."

Things get no easier for London Irish as they travel to fifth-placed Gloucester on Saturday (3pm), and Kennedy confessed he has been impressed by the Cherry and Whites.

He said: "They're a confident team at the moment, they're playing some very attractive rugby, running it from everywhere and it's working for them.

"Once that Shed gets going they give their side a lot of energy."