 Riki Flutey scored the first try for Wasps on Sunday |
Wasps (18) 35
Tries: Flutey, Sackey 2, Cipriani 2
Cons: Cipriani 2
Pens: Cipriani 2 Newcastle (0) 12
Tries: Golding, Wilson
Cons: Jones
Wasps clinched a try bonus point as they secured just their second Guinness Premiership win of the season.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes Wasps got the scoreboard ticking over with two Daniel Cipriani penalties.
Tries from Riki Flutey and Paul Sackey in the closing minutes of the half helped Wasps lead 18-0 at the break.
Newcastle hit back through Jon Golding and David Wilson but Cipriani went over for a try double and Sackey completed his brace as Wasps won in some style.
With many of their big stars away at the World Cup Wasps - the reigning European champions - struggled in the early part of the season.
Cipriani, just 20, narrowly missed out on England's final squad but the return of the big guns has inspired him to produce some superb displays and he was man of the match on Sunday.
As well as his brace of tries Cipriani had a hand in Wasps' other three touchdowns and also kicked two penalties and two conversions for a personal contribution of 20 points.
Wasps have now won four matches in a row and Newcastle, without England stars Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood, were rarely in contention.
Falcons fly-half Steve Jones squandered two kickable penalties - one from 25m out in front of the posts - before his opposite number Cipriani landed two penalties for Wasps.
Cipriani's perfectly timed pass sent Kiwi centre Flutey jinking through the Newcastle defence for the opening try in the 37th minute.
Three minutes later the pair linked up again and Flutey showed fast hands to unleash Sackey on a run to the line.
Newcastle saw a glimmer of hope early in the second half when prop Jon Golding drove over from close range for a converted try, but Cipriani crashed over for his first try as the hour mark approached.
David Wilson forced his way over for Newcastle's second try in the 62nd minute before a Josh Lewsey break set up Sackey for his second score.
Cipriani fittingly had the final say as he underlined his claim for a place in England's Six Nations squad with his second try in the final minute.
Wasps scrum-half Eoin Reddan on man of the match Cipriani:
"He's a very good player. He works hard, trains hard, has a lot to say on the pitch and is a pleasure to play with.
"When he walked in a few weeks ago on his 20th birthday I told him 'it isn't potential anymore'.
"I was joking but he's providing really good rugby and playing well."
Newcastle coach John Fletcher on the availability of his missing England players for next week: "Jonny will be in full training tomorrow. He was pretty close this week and we expect him to be available for selection along with Toby Flood."
Fletcher on new prop Carl Hayman:
"We start paying him this week so I expect he will be in the squad.
"You can't make mistakes against Wasps. They are a top side and you have to play well against them for 80 minutes."
Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Flutey, Voyce, Cipriani; Reddan, Payne; Ward, Adams, Birkett, Skivington, Haskell, Rees, Hart.
Replacements: Webber, Holford, Shaw, Dallaglio, Amor, Lewsey, Leo.
Newcastle: May; Phillips, Tait, Noon, Rudd; Jones, Grindal; Golding, Thompson, Wilson, Perry, Sorenson, Parling, Woods, Dowson (capt).
Replacements: Long, McDonnell, Tomes, Gesinde, Dickson, Visser, Dillon.
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