Deano’s Falcons make it three wins on the spin
NEWCASTLE continue to defy the pundits and thoroughly deserved this win over a flat and depleted Wasps team.
Dean Richards’ unheralded squad have taken their Premiership rivals by surprise and were always in control of this contest to add to those closer wins over Sale and Bath.
Both teams scored three tries but Newcastle led 27-5 after 53 minutes and Wasps needed a muscular finish to cut the deficit into a more respectable scoreline.
“We will come a cropper at some stage but the plan is to keep it going,” said a delighted Richards.
Even the most devoted Geordie would never have predicted this undefeated start built on collective efforts which leaves them chasing champions Exeter.
Falcons, led by No.8 Gary Graham up front and the guidance of Toby Flood behind, grabbed the momentum early on and never let go to lead 17-5 at half-time thanks to tries from wing Adam Radwan and lock Marco Fuser.
Helped by the dependable boot of Flood, who collected 12 points, a third try early in the second half from wing Ben Stevenson put Wasps 27-5 behind.
For Wasps, who fielded a starting team which showed seven changes from the defeat at Gloucester last week, the attacking zeal of last summer’s restart has gone missing.
Nothing went right for them including losing both starting locks to head injury assessments in the first minute.
The knocks helped give Newcastle the momentum and they took early advantage of a Flood penalty.
Lock James Gaskell did not return from his assessment and by the time Levi Douglas got back on, relieving on-loan substitute Josh Caulfield, Wasps were 10-0 down.
Newcastle generated plenty of hustle and bustle and the pressure gave their nimble handlers the chance to make good ground.
It ended in substitute Joel Hodgson, who had replaced full-back Tom Penny, demonstrating fast hands by putting Radwan
into the clear at the corner.
Flood landed the conversion from the touc hline to complete an excellent opening quarter for Newcastle.
Wasps domina ted the next ten but had only a try by Paolo Odogwu, thanks to more quick hands this time from ex-Ne wcastle wing Zach Kibirig e, to sho w for their efforts.
Jimmy Gopperth missed the conversion after having failed to land a f ar easier penalty from 35 metres out.
To complete a dismal period f or the f ormer Falcon, the home team had a try r uled out after a pass
from Gopper th had been ruled forward.
Newcastle soaked up the pressure and finished the half like they star ted. And the momentum br ought a second try , this time f or Fuser who forced his way over. Flood converted for a 17-5 lead at half-time.
Wasps attempted to start the second half brightl y and for four minutes Newcastle were back pedalling as No.8 Alfie Barbeary led the home charge.
The y oung f orward looked to be in the clear but his run was stopped b y an ankle-tap tackle.
Newcastle r egrouped and accepted a Wasps present of a f loated pass fr om Lima Sa poaga which was intercepted near halfwa y by wing Ben Ste venson. The wing dashed 50 metres for his team’ s thir d try which Flood improved.
To top a calamitous fe w minutes Wasps had another chance of a try dashed when Thomas Young failed to hold a pass from Kibirige.
Wasps tur ned to muscle to gain some respectability with tries in the final quarter from replacement prop Tom West and second r ow Douglas.