Sopoaga stars as Wasps blast back

NEWCASTLE 22 WASPS 23

LIMA SOPOAGA’S late, long-range penalty secured a hard-fought victory for Wasps at Kingston Park last night. The All Black fly-half arrived in the summer on a big-money deal and his 72nd-minute effort from the tee proved the match-winner at Newcastle HQ. Sopoaga missed his first kick of the night but atoned with a brilliant chip to set up Josh Bassett for the opening try. Newcastle replied with a try of the highest quality, Sinoti Sinoti proving the catalyst. The Samoan speedster danced through three Wasps tacklers before off-loading to England flanker Mark Wilson, who sprinted in from 20 metres. A Sopoaga penalty put the visitors into the lead but the Falcons came firing back as Johnny Williams powered over the line after a scything break from Toby Flood. Falcons fly-half Flood stretched Newcastle’s lead with another penalty just before half-time. Wasps had the last word before the break, however, as Sopoaga sent former Falcon Marcus Watson into the corner with a brilliantly improvised overhead pass. Williams bagged his brace in the 47th minute as the Falcons stormed into a deserved 22-13 lead. Juan de Jongh hit back with a try on the hour mark to make it a two-point game, but Sopoaga had the final say.