Paul Gustard was pleased with how his Harlequins side ground out a win over Wasps and moved back into the Gallagher Premiership top four.

Quins came out on top in an attritional match at Twickenham Stadium in Big Game 11 and held on to win 20-13.

However, the win was somewhat overshadowed by the reaction to Quins hooker Dave Ward's alleged spit at Wasps' Thomas Young.

Ward was sin-binned after stamping on Young's ankle early in the game, but referee Craig Maxwell-Keys seemed to miss the spit which was shown on TV.

Quins have handed Ward a one-game ban for the stamp but cleared him of spitting.

Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: "We have reviewed this episode as a club and I have spoken with Dave.

"We do not coach, condone or accept foul play and on behalf of the team and the club, I apologise to Thomas, Dai and Wasps for this incident.

“It was an unnecessary and regrettable incident in what was a tightly contested match."

Ward added: "I apologise unreservedly to Thomas Young, Wasps and everyone at Harlequins for my yellow card yesterday.

"I would also like to make clear that I did not spit on another player during the match yesterday. Regardless of what the television footage looks like I know that I have never spat on a player in all my career and will never do so."

On the match, Gustard said: “It was tenacious, it wasn't a glamourous performance but again the boys showed real character, real grit, real determination to see it through.

"We faultered a bit in that second half, we never really hit our straps and there were a couple bits of individual brilliance from a few players. It was lovely intuition from Danny [Care] again, how often have we seen that?

"We just needed a win today, having lost last weekend and not put in a great performance, today the result was more important."