Full-time: Gloucester 24 Wasps 22. Akapusi Qera made a triumphant return from injury as Gloucester went back to the top of the Guinness Premiership with victory over Wasps at Kingsholm.

The Fijian flanker, out for nine months following knee surgery, scored a try three minutes into his comeback to help Gloucester on their way to victory.

Replacement Dave Walder kicked 17 points for Wasps – but their Premiership play-off hopes look dead and buried after this defeat.

The sides had gone in level at the break after Olly Morgan and Iain Balshaw had scored fine individual tries for Gloucester in the first half, while winger Lachlan Mitchell went over for Wasps.

Olly Barkley kicked Gloucester into a fifth-minute lead after Wasps had been found guilty of entering a ruck from the side.

But Wasps, who lost Josh Lewsey to injury after 12 minutes, scored the game's first try four minutes later through Mitchell.

Carlos Spencer knocked on, and from the scrum Wasps worked play wide, with Dominic Waldouck breaking and feeding Danny Cipriani, who was tap-tackled by Charlie Sharples.

The fly-half managed to pass out of the tackle to winger Mitchell, who went over. Replacement Dave Walder converted to give Wasps a 7-3 lead.

That lead became 10-3 when Gloucester were punished for crossing and Walder kept his nerve to slot the 40-metre penalty.

Gloucester responded through Morgan, who produced one of the tries of the season to bring his side back to within touching distance.

Barkley and Spencer combined to free Morgan, who went on a stunning solo run from just outside his own 22 to score in the corner.

Barkley missed the conversion to level the match, and minutes later Wasps were further ahead through another Walder penalty.

But Gloucester had the final say of an intriguing opening period, scoring a second try through Balshaw.

The home side secured line-out ball on the left wing, Spencer found Barkley, and his long pass released Balshaw, who raced in from 40 metres to level the scores.

Walder kicked Wasps back in front with another long-range penalty two minutes into the second half when Gloucester were penalised at a ruck.

Barkley finally found his range to slot a 25-metre penalty which brought Gloucester level, but it was not long before a further Walder penalty had nudged Wasps back in front.

Wasps captain Serge Betsen saw yellow for handling at a ruck as Gloucester began to assert a degree of authority on the visitors – and it was not long before they were back in front. Wasps failed to deal with the close-quarters power of Gloucester at the scrummage, and Qera, on for Gareth Delve, forced his way over from close range.

Gloucester led 21-19 – but were soon one point behind when Walder again held his nerve to kick Wasps back into the lead after a ruck infringement.

And the lead changed hands again when Barkley landed a 45-metre penalty after a Wasp failed to roll away from a tackle. He then failed to increase Gloucester's lead, sending two further long-range efforts off target.

And despite late Wasps pressure on the Gloucester line, the home side held on to claim their ninth successive home league win.

Gloucester: O Morgan; I Balshaw, A Allen (M Watkins 78), O Barkley, C Sharples (M Foster 64); C Spencer (R Lamb 69), R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam (A Titterrell 64), G Somerville, W James, A Brown, L Narraway, A Hazell, G Delve (capt; A Qera 54). Reps not used: J Forster, A Eustace.

Scorers: Tries – Morgan, Balshaw, Qera. Pens – Barkley (3).

Wasps: M van Gisbergen; L Mitchell, D Waldouck, J Lewsey (D Walder 12), T Voyce; D Cipriani, E Reddan (J Simpson 80); C Beech (M Holford 58), R Webber (J Ward 70), T Payne, R Birkett (D Leo 66), G Skivington, S Betsen (capt; M Veale 79), T Rees, J Hart. Rep not used: M Odejobi.

Scorers: Try – Mitchell. Con – Walder. Pens – Walder (5).

Sin-binned: Betsen (52-66, handling at ruck).

Ref: S Davey. Att: 15,294.