Wasps move into top four

Wasps climbed into the top four of the Aviva Premiership on Sunday after beating Newcastle Falcons 33-16 at Adams Park.

The home side moved into the lead with tries from Ben Jacobs and Serge Betsen, with a late penalty try plus 18 points from fly-half Dave Walder sealing the win.

Newcastle stayed in touch until the final quarter of the match, with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth scoring all their points including a try late in the first half.

However, Wasps ultimately ran out deserved winners with Andy Powell producing an inspirational display.

Wales coach Warren Gatland will have been buoyed by the number eight's performance less than a month before he names his Six Nations squad.

But England will have been less convinced by Riki Flutey who was making his first start since suffering a calf injury in October but who limped off before the end.

Flutey's return was one of six changes made by Wasps following their Boxing Day defeat to Saracens at Wembley.

The Falcons, meanwhile, will have to wait for the debut of new signing Euan Murray - the Scottish prop being unavailable to play on Sundays.

Wasps, who lost 29-17 when the two sides met at Kingston Park in September, quickly went 6-0 up when former Newcastle fly-half Walder kicked two penalties.

The second was awarded by referee Chris White after Wasps thought they had scored - scrum-half Nic Berry having chased down Richard Haughton's chip only for play to be brought back for an offside.

Powerful

Powell's first contribution of note was a powerful run which set up David Lemi to launch a breakaway.

The second, onto a neat inside ball from hooker Tom Lindsay, almost brought a try.

Berry followed up and sold the Newcastle defence a huge dummy from the base of the ruck but was hauled down just short of the line.

Wasps could then have gone 12-0 up had they not spurned two simple shots at goal after Newcastle were penalised inside their own 22.

However, the visitors hung in there after lively approach work from the Falcons' England scrum-half prospect Micky Young was rewarded with a penalty kicked by Gopperth.

After Powell bludgeoned his way through the Newcastle defence, the ball was moved wide to Tom Varndell and Wasps won another three-pointer which Walder tucked away.

Wasps were dominant but the scoreboard did not reflect as much. Twice more they came close to scoring the opening try before Jacobs eventually crossed the whitewash.

Haughton danced past three defenders on half-way and Simon Shaw then progressed the move after collecting the full-back's one-handed offload.

Wasps built pressure on the Newcastle line but could not secure the quick ball they needed, with Lemi tackled into touch as he went for the corner.

Tighthead prop Zak Taulafo then tried the blindside route from short range but Young and Luke Fielden forced him into touch just before he grounded the ball.

The pressure eventually paid off, however, when Walder moved to the line and passed out to Jacobs, who carried five Newcastle defenders with him over the line.

Twisting

Even so, Newcastle hit back again just before the interval. Flanker Redford Pennycook went on a twisting run that saw him beat Tim Payne and Haughton before he passed for Gopperth to cross.

Walder then extended Wasps' lead but Gopperth kicked two more penalties to keep the Falcons in touch heading into the final quarter.

Wasps finally broke clear with 11 minutes remaining, doing so in some style with a 45-metre rolling maul.

Shaw and Powell were at the heart of the drive, which was finished off by Betsen.

Powell almost scored a deserved try after he peeled off the back of a scrum to touch down next to the posts - but referee White had already awarded the penalty try.