Wasps maintain the pressure at the top

12:06pm Wednesday 11th January 2006

WASPS' juggernaut kept on rolling with a revenge victory over Newcastle on Sunday.

Falcons, still missing the injured Jonny Wilkinson, were the last team to beat Wasps in the league when they secured a one-point win in November but they never looked like springing a surprise on a determined Wasps side who recorded their fourth straight win.

In tricky conditions, with rain lashing down throughout, Wasps showed their tactical nous and defensive abilities to shut-out Newcastle and ease to a victory to keep them level on points with Sale at the top of the Guinness Premiership table.

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan said: "It was the perfect performance for the conditions."

Three months ago, in similar condition, Wasps succumbed to Edinburgh, and McGeechan criticised his team for trying to play too much rugby when conditions demanded they played for territory.

This time, Wasps showed they had learned their lesson, with the kick used to good effect by the backs.

Newcastle tried to use the same tactic but ended up kicking down the throat of Mark van Gisbergen, Tom Voyce and Paul Sackey, who used their pace and guile to return the ball with interest.

The game, however, was won in the loose, with Joe Worsley and Lawrence Dallaglio back to their best, and Ali McKenzie and Simon Shaw also punching notable holes in the Falcons pack.

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew admitted: "Wasps are the form side in the country and they beat us in the loose, which is one of their great strengths both offensively and defensively.

"They deserved to win. They were the better side."

Wasps only needed three minutes to take the lead when Sackey was released down the right.

He was tackled just short of the line by Ollie Philips but the Falcons defender couldn't hold on, and Sackey showed presence of mind to get up and dive over the line.

After an exciting start, the game petered out into a kicking game though Eoin Reddan still keeping Matt Dawson out of the side made an excellent break but Wasps couldn't capitalise.

Matt Burke landed a penalty to reduce the deficit before Wasps went close again through Stuart Abbott and Peter Bracken.

Falcons just couldn't gain a platform from which to build an attack but they took the lead on 33 minutes through another Burke penalty.

That was as good as it got for Newcastle though and they ended the half 8-6 behind when van Gisbergen landed a penalty.

It was soon 13-6 after half time when Wasps started to crank up the pressure. It was Sackey again who scored the try, diving over on the right after good work from Josh Lewsey.

Wasps maintained the pressure and another try looked on, only for Andy Long to spoil the momentum by running offside. He was sin-binned for his troubles and fly half Jeremy Staunton preferred to Alex King kicked the penalty.

Newcastle looked to gain a foothold in the game but Wasps' defence looked secure, with Worsley making tackles for fun.

Wasps were dealt a blow when the unlucky replacement Martin Purdy returning from a series of injuries went off with a suspe- cted broken arm.

But they finished the game with a flourish thanks to two Wasps stalwarts. There was a fantastic exchange of passes down the left by Dawson and Alex King and the England scrum half dived over to give Wasps their third try of the match.

There was still time for Wasps to search for the bonus point but they had to be content with another victory which keeps them in fine fettle for the trip to Toulouse on Saturday.

Wasps: Van Gisbergen, Sackey, Lewsey, Abbott (Erinle 62), Voyce, Staunton (King 69), Reddan (M Dawson 69), McKenzie (Ibanez 80), Barrett, Bracken (Va'a h-t), Shaw, Skivington (Purdy 62, Rees 70), Hart, Worsley, Dallaglio.

Scorers: Tries - Sackey (two), M Dawson; Pens - Van Gisbergen, Staunton.

Attendance: 10,000.

Referee: Wayne Barnes.

Wasps 21, Newcastle 6