BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | English | Wilkinson sees off Wasps

Newcastle 24-17 Wasps

Newcastle were forced to rely on Jonny Wilkinson's kicking as they opened their Zurich Premiership campaign with a win over Wasps.

All of the Falcons' points came from the prolific boot of the England fly-half as his side never looked like scoring a try.

We didn't want to win by penalties, we wanted to play good rugby

Newcastle coach Rob Andrew

They struggled to compete up front against a Wasps pack which boasted five England internationals.

Even when they won more possession later in the second half the home side failed to make any impression.

Photo Gallery: Sunday's action in pictures

Wasps touched down through Josh Lewsey and Mark Denney for a well-worked tries in each half, and they could scored several more.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, denying the hosts any quality possession and forcing them into some desperate defending.

Dominance

Their first try came in the 20th minute courtesy of good work by former Wales skipper Rob Howley, making his first Premiership start.

The summer signing broke from the back of a scrum and sped upfield before offloading to Lewsey who touched down.

Wasps' Joe Worsley is tackled by Jonny Wilkinson.
Wasps forced the Falcons to defend for much of the game
Alex King added the conversion but man-of-the-match Wilkinson nudged his side ahead with three quickfire penalties.

Wasps continued to play all the attacking rugby, and Newcastle first brief spell of dominance only came after the interval.

But their efforts amounted to little as they failed to make any serious inroads into Wasps' defence.

Instead, the visitors retook the lead when Denney gathered a short, flat pass from Howley to scamper over under the posts. King converted once again.

We've only got ourselves to blame - our discipline was terrible

Wasps coach Warren Gatland

But the advantage did not last long as Wilkinson slotted another three penalties as his side finally started to take a grip on the match.

When Dallaglio was sin-binned for a professional foul, Newcastle took advantage by forcing another couple of penalties which Wilkinson stroked over.

King kicked three points deep into injury time to earn his side a bonus point.

Newcastle: Botham, Shaw, Noon, May, Stephenson, J. Wilkinson, Charlton, Peel, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan, Grimes, Taione, Dowson, Dunbar. Replacements: Grindal, Godman, Hamilton, Devonshire, Otuvaka, Ward, Thompson.

Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Abbott, Denney, Logan, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Greening, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio. Replacements: Bijon, Rudd, Wigran, Gotting, Beardshaw, Molloy, McCarthy.

Referee: R Goodliffe (Sheffield (RFU))


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