Leicester 9, Wasps 25

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio hailed yesterday's 25-9 Heineken Cup final victory over Leicester as the greatest Twickenham final of his glittering career.

Dallaglio has led the club to success in Europe, the EDF Energy Cup and Guinness Premiership but admitted the emphatic demolition of the red-hot favourites topped them all.

Leicester were hoping to complete an unprecedented treble, but their dream was shattered by a magnificent defensive display from Wasps, who out-muscled the Tigers from start to finish.

Dallaglio said: ''Of all the finals that was number one without a doubt. Everyone was telling us that was the best Leicester team ever, so we must be the best Wasps team ever.

''Everyone is delighted to win the Heineken Cup. It was a very important match for us to win because it shows everything we're about as a group.

''Leicester have had a fantastic season. They have strength in depth to challenge on three fronts but we targeted this competition and won.

''I understand why they were being talked up because they have done so well. But they won their two other trophies after not being put under much pressure.''

Dallaglio declared self-belief was the key to Wasps' triumph in front of a world-record crowd for a club match with 81,076 crammed into a sun-soaked Twickenham.

He said: ''The only way to win these games is to believe you can win. In the front row we had the captain of France and the captain of England. We have other experienced players and hungry youngsters, so the belief was always there.

''We took Leicester on in areas where people thought we would come off second best. We all look like a good side when we're going forward, which is what happened to us a few years ago.

''But when you're getting smashed behind the gainline you get asked questions.

''For Andy Goode to get substituted in the second half showed we had succeeded.

''To make sure Leicester didn't score a single point in the second half tells everything you need to know about our defence.''

Bath captain David Barnes has launched a stinging attack on the club's officials, accusing them of a gross lack of foresight which is threatening to destroy a once-proud reputation.

Bath won 16 trophies between 1984 and 1996, including five league and cup doubles.

But Saturdya's defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the European Challenge Cup final meant they haven't landed a trophy they won the Heineken Cup in 1998.

Senior players including Barnes and England lock Steve Borthwick are running out of patience as they see their beloved club dismantled around them.

''The brand of Bath is still a strong one but it is diminishing every year. The management have to wake up," said Barnes.