With the Blues seeking a bonus point the visitors' resolve seemed to strengthen, though, and after seeing out the sin-bin period flanker Burban struck back, shrugging off Thomas in a bullocking run down the flank for his side's second try.
But Wasps, who welcomed back flanker Tom Rees after two months out with a knee ligament injury, soon started dominating up front and with Irish scrums disintegrating in the 22, referee Romain Poite lost patience with the Exiles front row and awarded a penalty try.
Four minutes later the Blues struck again down the left, with flanker Martyn Williams cutting back inside to score.
Priestland converted, but the home side's lead did not last long as first Sexton claimed three points back after flanker Simon Easterby was penalised in the tackle area.
The visitors dominated the opening stages, with England centre Riki Flutey, playing at fly-half after missing the autumn Tests with a calf injury, Powell and flanker Richard Birkett, back for his first match since October, all prominent.
The flanker will be up against utility back Foden, the Harlequins duo of Danny Care and Jordan Turner-Hall, and Leicester flanker Tom Croft, another surprising omission from head coach Ian McGeechan's Lions squad.
The promising openside flanker is joined by versatile back John Houston and scrum half Greig Laidlaw in signing up for a further two years.
Flanker Michael Lipman and full-back Nick Abendanon replace Lewis Moody and Tom Varndell in the squad.
Leeds have brought in second row Marco Wentzel, flanker Alfie Too'ala and back Henry Fa'afili so far and hope to announce another new recruit soon.
Sale's Sebastien Bruno, Rory Lamont and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Munster prop Tim Ryan, Bristol flanker Joe El Abd, Saracens back-rower Kris Chesney and Cardiff centre Jamie Robinson were all included in the list as well as Wilkinson's former team-mate May.
McGeechan is set to name his Lions squad next month with full-back Lee Byrne, flanker Martyn Williams, lock Alun Wyn Jones, wing Shane Williams, props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, scrum-half Mike Phillips, fly-half Stephen Jones and captain Ryan Jones as Wales' front-runners to make the tour.
Blues flanker Martyn Williams had eased his way back into action in the opening period, but at the start of the second he burst into life, perhaps exploiting the Ospreys' lack of a genuine open-side after Ryan Jones replaced Tandy at the break.
Exeter struck back through a converted try from flanker Tom Johnson, but the home side's discipline faltered as Newcastle increased their intensity.
"Last time we played Worcester it was 25-6 at one point and we let them back into it, " added the flanker.
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But the Dragons held on to their slender one-point lead for another 20 minutes and eventually got a rolling maul try when they pushed the visiting eight back over their own line, with flanker Sowden-Taylor getting the congratulations from his team-mates.
The 23-year-old flanker follows Saracens number eight Ben Skirving and Western Province back-rower Luke Watson in moving to the Rec.
They added to their score when flanker Nicolas Bacque went over, and moments later, back Nicolas Brusque crossed over for their second try.
There are a host of players unavailable because of injury, including fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, wing James Simpson-Daniel, flanker Lewis Moody, wing David Strettle and full-back Nick Abendanon.
Among that world-class core are several survivors of the 2007 trauma, notably fly-half Dan Carter, full-back Mils Muliaina, prop Tony Woodcock and flanker Richie McCaw, captain on that fateful day in Cardiff.
Full-back Percy Montgomery has retired from Test rugby and flanker Luke Watson withdrew after a dispute with the South African Rugby Union.
They are French back-row forward Imanol Harinordoquy, All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw, Australian Mat Rogers, and South Africans Brent Russell and Joe van Niekerk.
Wood and Dowson both come in because of injuries to Leicester flanker Tom Croft and England captain Lewis Moody, who hopes to back for their third game.
London Irish open-side flanker Steffon Armitage will also travel to Paris as cover for the back row, with Johnson stressing that it was a precautionary move because of a number of "niggling injuries".
While Phillips was off the field, the visitors pegged back three early penalties from Williams with a fine try by flanker Field.
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Farrell came on for the last 21 minutes at blind-side flanker but could do little to stem the tide as the Blues went back to the top of the group B table as the only side with two wins out of two.
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With back-rowers Corry and Dallaglio now out of the picture, Croft and Wasps flanker James Haskell get their chance to stake a first-team spot.
Three National Division One players make the team - Bedford full-back James Pritchard, scrum-half Ed Fairhurst of Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion flanker Sean Michael Stephen.
Adrift 20-14 at half-time, the All Blacks hit back with a try from centre Dave Tiueti only for Vale to respond immediately through flanker Gareth Green.
Flanker Andy Saull was sin-binned for a cynical tap-tackle on Abendanon with the full-back chasing down a grubber kick.
The opening minutes were marred by an injury to Golden Lions full-back Louis Ludick, who was stretchered off after injuring his knee in a collision with Lions flanker David Wallace.
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