McGeechan hopes to build on win

Post-match reaction to Wasps' 23-17 victory over Newcastle.

Wasps Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan hopes Friday night's dramatic 23-17 victory at Newcastle can finally give some momentum to his side's Guinness Premiership campaign.

Both sides went into the bottom-of-the-table clash on the back of three successive defeats, and with one minute remaining it was still in the balance as to who would break the sequence.

Wasps replacement prop forward Charlie Beech finally settled it when he drove over with seconds remaining, leaving the Falcons no time to hit back.

But the turning point probably came 10 minutes earlier when the home side were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Ed Williamson for a spear tackle.

“A win is everything, we produced some very good forward play which is why the penalties came,” a relieved McGeechan said afterwards.

Referring to the previous game against Sale, he added: “It would have been very difficult to have suffered another last-minute defeat.”

When asked if the result could be a turning point, the Scot said: “I hope so, it's been very difficult playing without 12 or 13 men (away on international duty or injured), and we can now press on when we get our England boys back next week.”

Whilst Wasps undoubtedly had the lion's share of possession, it was Newcastle who had taken their opportunities, scoring a breakaway try within three minutes of the start of each half.

Their New Zealand centre Tane Tuipulotu laid on the opener with a delightful step inside and then a floated pass to the wing for ex-rugby league winger Danny Williams to storm over for his second try in successive games.

The second-half effort began with a kick from defence which was taken on by Tom May and then full-back Steve Jones, with May in support to finish it off.

Rory Clegg had converted the first score and also landed a penalty but the real damage was done at the other end where Dave Walder, the Wasps fly-half, had put over five penalties from five attempts.

The former Newcastle favourite who was released in April 2006 came back to haunt his former colleagues after referee Andrew Small spotted several Newcastle infringements within kicking distance.

The May try after the restart made it 17-15 to the Falcons and their director of rugby Steve Bates praised his side “for a very gutsy effort”.

“We will have to look at the penalty count, you cannot afford to give 15 points away for indiscipline.”