Newcastle 29 (16) Tries: M Wilkinson, Dowson Cons: May (2) Pens: May (3), Walder (2) Wasps 28 (11) Tries: Roberts (2), Erinle Cons: Van Gisbergen (2) Pens: Van Gisbergen (3)

Substitute Dave Walder slotted an injury-time penalty as Newcastle edged past Wasps at Kingston Park.

The Falcons started strongest, Mark Wilkinson scoring a try on 20 minutes before Mike Roberts hit back for the visitors before half-time.

Phil Dowson touched down on 46 minutes to make it 21-11 but Ayoola Erinle reduced the deficit 11 minutes later.

Roberts gave Wasps the lead with his second try three minutes from time before Walder snatched it at the death.

Wasps put in a terrific second-half rally and looked like nicking it before Walder's intervention.

Tom May slotted a penalty to give Falcons an early lead but Wasps full-back Mark van Gisbergen hit back to level the scores.

The Falcons re-took the lead through the boot of May before going further ahead thanks to the game's first try.

Scrum-half James Grindal picked up from a ruck and fed Wilkinson, who breezed through a non-existent midfield to dive over.

This is probably as good a win as we have had all season given the kids we had in the team Newcastle's Rob Andrew

May converted and Newcastle continued to open up the Wasps defence with debutant Toby Flood particularly impressive.

But Wasps closed the gap through the boot of Van Gisbergen and narrowed the deficit further through Roberts' opening try.

Receiving the ball from a standing start, the England Sevens regular managed to break free from May's tackle and scurry over.

May hit back with a penalty to leave Newcastle 16-11 in front at half-time and six minutes after the restart the Falcons extended their advantage with a contender for try of the season.

Michael Stephenson fired a long pass to Mark Mayerhofler on his own five-metre line who in turn fed Epi Taione.

After a string of deft passes, the superb Flood was hauled down five metres out but popped the ball up for Dowson who finished off the move.

May converted and Wasps coach Warren Gatland immediately made four substitutions.

Wasps centre Erinle then powered through tackles by Mayerhofler and Flood to score his seventh league try of the season just before the hour mark.

It was a close game that could have gone either way Wasps coach Warren Gatland

Van Gisbergen converted but the Falcons should have replied immediately when May fumbled a sloppy Semo Sititi pass with the line beckoning.

Soon after Van Gisbergen made it 23-21 before replacement Walder kicked a penalty for the Falcons.

Wasps looked to have nicked it when Tom Voyce returned a kick and passed to Roberts, who strode through a poor Walder tackle to dive over for a 55-metre effort.

Van Gisbergen knocked over the conversion to give Wasps a 28-26 lead but Walder had the final say in the 85th minute to give Newcastle the points.

Newcastle: Burke; May, Mayerhofler, Taione, Stephenson; Wilkinson, Grindal; Peel, (capt), Thompson, Ward; Gross, Hamilton; Sititi, Harris, Dowson.
Replacements: Isaacson, Long, McCarthy, Parling, Dickson, Walder, Shaw

Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Voyce, Erinle, Priscott, Roberts; King, Biljon; Dowd, Greening, Green; Purdy, Birkett; Hart, Skivington, Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: Barrett, Payne, Shaw, McKenzie, Fury, Thrower, O'Connor.