Wasps claimed their fourth win from five games so far in the Premiership season as they came from behind to beat Newcastle 23-22 on Friday.
Tries from Josh Bassett, Marcus Watson and Juan de Jongh saw them to the four points, with Lima Sopoaga adding eight points off the tee.
In reply the Falcons’ try-scorers were Mark Wilson and Johnny Williams (two) but they will rue turning down several kickable opportunities.
It was a first stanza that saw periods of dominance from both sides but it was the Falcons who went in with their noses in front at 15-13.
Wasps had the first chance for points on eight minutes but Sopoaga was wide and short with his long-range attempt. However, three minutes later the visitors were over as the New Zealand fly-half’s perfectly weighted grubber kick was grounded by Bassett in the left-hand corner.
5-0 became 5-5 six minutes later though as a moment of magic from Sinoti Sinoti saw him step one defender and then fend two before finding Wilson on his shoulder, the number eight having enough pace to get to the whitewash for the levelling score. Toby Flood could not add the two.
Wasps hit back quickly via a Sopoaga penalty but they came agonisingly close to making it seven points, as Michael Le Bourgeois came up just short.
After that it was all Newcastle with only excellent defence keeping them out until the 30th minute, when Flood’s bust led to Williams making it 12-8. Flood did make it 15-8 six minutes later before Wasps responded before the break, Watson finishing off slick hands to cut the lead to two.
Newcastle though came out firing after half-time and it was Sinoti again the catalyst as his run preceded Williams scoring against a post.
The Falcons were now 22-13 ahead and that was almost increased on 51 minutes but replacement Tom Penny had a foot in touch when grounding. It came back to haunt them on the hour mark as Sopoaga’s well-timed pass found De Jongh on a good line as it became 22-20 at Kingston Park.
Newcastle had the chance to add three points shortly afterwards but wanted more, which backfired as nothing came of the attacking line-out.
Then Sopoaga landed a long-range attempt to nudge Wasps 23-22 in front which, despite a late Newcastle onslaught, was how it finished.
The scorers:
For Newcastle:
Tries: Wilson, Williams 2
Cons: Flood 2
Pen: Flood
For Wasps:
Tries: Bassett, Watson, De Jongh
Con: Sopoaga
Pens: Sopoaga 2
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Gary Graham, 5 Tevita Cavubati, 4 Calum Green, 3 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Sami Mavinga, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Will Witty, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Tom Penny
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Ben Morris, 6 Ashley Johnson (c), 5 James Gaskell, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Zurabi Zhvania
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Elliot Daly
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Peter Allan, Hamish Smales
Television match official: Sean Davey