By Falcons Admin
March 20 2021

 

Newcastle Falcons had to make do with a losing bonus point from a bruising Gallagher Premiership contest on Friday at Kingston Park Stadium.

Leading 18-6 at the break but paying for a double sin-binning, they were denied a home-and-away double over a Wasps side who tightened things up to good effect during the second half.

Newcastle made a strong start and won a penalty from the very first scrum, Joel Hodgson’s 40-metre kick sailing between the posts from out on the left-hand side to assume the early advantage.

Former Falcon Jimmy Gopperth drew the sides level with a 10th minute penalty from the right following an early tackle, but the hosts were soon back in front when a penalty on the 22 was sent to the left corner.

The resulting maul saw Newcastle working an advantage to good effect, Marco Fuser scoring against Wasps for the second time this season as he ploughed over from close range.

Hodgson added the extras from out on the left as his side reached double figures, his side thwarting an attempted response from Wasps when Sean Robinson earned a jackal penalty on his own 22 with some keen ruck work.

A second Hodgson penalty put the Falcons 13-3 up on 25 minutes as forward pressure forced the visitors to commit another offence, Newcastle’s scrum in particular putting the men from Coventry under significant pressure.

Gopperth chipped three back with a simple penalty from in front after his side had been held up over the try-line on the left corner, but the Falcons had the last say of the half when George Wacokecoke scored down the right – the centre collecting an inside pass from Tom Penny who had intercepted a cross-field kick before running it back with interest.

That left Newcastle 18-6 up at the break, Wasps denting that margin by seven after the restart when Brad Shields barrelled over from a close-range ruck for a converted try.

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