WASPS director of rugby Dai Young praised Marlow’s Tom Howe after the winger capped a superb Premiership debut with a try in a 32-20 defeat to Saracens at Adams Park this afternoon.

Howe crossed in a losing cause but, playing in Christian Wade’s shirt, he was one of the game’s stand-out performers.

Young said: “I thought Tommy Howe did really well, and he’s only a young kid. To get a try on his debut is excellent for him and I don’t think he put a foot wrong.”

Howe was one a swathe of changes to the side as Wasps tried, successfully, to rediscover an attacking spark. Three tries were their reward and a fourth slipped through their fingers when Jonah Holmes was held up over the line.

Young said: “It was a better performance from us today, certainly with ball in hand. We created today, which we probably haven’t done for the last month or so. We looked like we could cause an outstanding defence some problems and we left some points out there.

“One or two kicks went amiss and there was a try we should have scored really.

“There were a lot of positives and we looked far more of a team than we have in the last month.”

That said, Saracens proved why they are the Premiership leaders and favourites, pulling clear of Wasps whenever the home team got within touching distance of them.

Young said: “They’re not top of the league for no reason and I always felt they had an extra gear. They always made the right decisions in the right areas and everything they did was a little more accurate than us.”