Varndell double sees Wasps home

Editor

Tom Varndell went over twice as Wasps wrapped up a bonus-point win 35-18 over Newcastle at Adams Park.

Tries by Varndell and James Gaskell helped the hosts into a 17-11 lead at the interval, while Newcastle’s response came through two Juan Pablo Socino penalties and Ruki Tipuna’s try.

But Dai Young’s men dominated after the break as Varndell and Rob Miller both crossed the whitewash to complete the victory.

Newcastle, who have still to win this term, remain in 11th place in the table. Yet the visitors were always prepared to make a game of it and had the home side at times under considerable pressure.

Socino drew first blood for the Falcons with a penalty but a break by Elliott Daly created the opportunity for Varndell to cross for a try, Andy Goode adding the conversion.

Socino and Goode exchanged penalties before some superb build up play brought a first try in Wasps colours for James Gaskell, Goode once again adding the conversion.

A deep kick from a penalty by Newcastle had Wasps under pressure on their own line from where Tipuna went over to bring Falcons back into contention at half-time.

Two penalties early in the second period from Goode increased Wasps’ advantage. Newcastle hit back, though, and after a few phases managed to get over the line but the TMO ruled no try.

A break by Ashley Johnson then opened up the Falcons’ defence as Varndell went in at the corner for his second, Miller with a touchline conversion.

It was Miller who crossed for the bonus score after Christian Wade had ripped the ball out of a tackle.

Falcons came back with real energy and, with Wade yellow-carded for deliberately knocking on, the referee awarded a penalty try, converted by Socino.

The scorers:

For Wasps:
Tries: Varndell 2, Gaskell, Miller
Conversions: Goode 2, Miller
Penalties: Goode 3
Yellow Card: Wade

For Newcastle:
Tries: Tipuna, Penalty
Conversions: Clegg
Penalties: Socino

The teams:

Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Ed Jackson, 7 James Haskell (c), 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 John Yapp, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 James Cannon, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Andrea Masi, 23 Christian Wade.

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Juan Pablo Socino, 9 Ruki Tipuna, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Dom Barrow, 4 Calum Green, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Kieran Brookes.
Replacements: 16 Alex Rogers, 17 Rob Hawkins, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Josh Furno, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Alex Tuilagi.

Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Andrew Pearce
Television match official: David Grashoff