Aviva Premiership: Wasps hand Newcastle 20th straight league loss
Last Updated: 29/09/14 3:19pm
Wasps moved up five places in the Aviva Premiership table with a comfortable 35-18 win over struggling Newcastle at Adams Park.
The hosts claimed a bonus point thanks to a brace of tries for Tom Varndell and further efforts from Rob Miller and James Gaskell, meaning they bounced back in style following last week's loss to Harlequins.
Andy Goode kicked three penalties and two conversions while Miller also added a conversion as Newcastle were subjected to a 20th straight Premiership defeat.
The Falcons battled hard throughout but could only manage a first-half try from lively scrum half, Ruki Tipuna and a penalty try late on. Juan Pablo Socino kicked two penalties and Rory Clegg added one conversion.
It was a Socino penalty after two minutes that put the visitors in front, though Wasps had the better of the early exchanges and were rewarded with the first try of the game in the 17th minute.
From a scrum just inside the Newcastle half, the hosts moved the ball swiftly along the three-quarter line allowing Elliot Daly to produce a superbly-timed pass to send Varndell over for his first of the afternoon.
Further clear
Goode converted and kicked a penalty and although Socino responded with one for the Falcons to leave his team trailing 10-6, Wasps moved further clear when Gaskell nicked a line-out in the opposition 22 to kick-start an attack that he himself would eventually finish off.
Socino missed a penalty attempt after Gaskell was penalised for offside before Newcastle suffered another blow when their prop, Kieran Brookes, limped off to be replaced by Alex Rogers.
However, the Falcons, to their credit, overcame these setbacks to score their first try of the game when Tipuna evaded some poor Wasps defending to nip over for the try. Socino failed to convert so Wasps held a 17-11 advantage at the halfway stage.
Goode kicked Wasps further in front with two penalties in quick succession before he was replaced by Andrea Masi, with Miller switching from full-back to fly-half.
Immediately following the change, Wasps scored their crucial third try. Johnson burst away to run 30 metres to provide the scoring pass for Varndell, who had the speed to squeeze in at the corner. Despite the tough angle, Miller knocked over the extras.
Christian Wade was introduced for the last quarter and it was a piece of magic from the England winger that created the space for Miller to run from the halfway line for the fourth try that clinched Wasps an extra point.
Wade soon turned the villain when he was harshly yellow carded for an attempted interception on his own line which saw then referee award a penalty try which Clegg converted.