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Wasps return to Premiership action with a 31-6 win against Newcastle Falcons
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A penalty try and Frank Halai score gave the hosts a healthy 17-3 lead at the break
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RUCK man of the match Jimmy Gopperth sealed the win with his try and conversion after the restart
Wasps closed in on Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens after they beat Newcastle Falcons 31-6 at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.
September Player of the Month Jimmy Gopperth opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a penalty before two quickfire scores for Wasps, courtesy of a penalty try and Frank Halai, gave the hosts a healthy 17-3 lead at the break.
Mike Delany penalties either side of half-time got Newcastle onto the scoreboard and back into the game, but Wasps sealed the bonus-point victory thanks to two tries from ex-Falcon Gopperth.
A long stoppage early on ended with Wasps’ Marty Moore being stretchered off to generous applause from both sets of fans at the Ricoh Arena.
Gopperth then finally broke the deadlock from the tee after 14 minutes before soon after he converted a penalty try, which saw Newcastle Falcons’ fullback Simon Hammersley sent to the sin-bin after it was adjudged that he deliberately knocked-on, 10-0.
With the man advantage, the hosts were in for try number two directly from the restart as centre Elliot Daly chipped the ball forward to winger Halai, who with a swivel of the hips, evaded Olympic silver-medalist Marcus Watson to touch down. Gopperth again confidently added the extras to give the hosts a more convincing lead.
Newcastle were on the scoreboard by halftime thanks to Mike Delany’s penalty, but they still trailed 17-3.
Kiwi Delany then reduced the deficit further with another three-pointer after the restart.
A moment of Gopperth magic then sealed Wasps’ victory. After great work from Joe Launchbury, Gopperth drove through to touch down and converted his own try, 24-6.
More to follow.
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Wasps: Jimmy Gopperth
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 Alex Rieder, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Marty Moore, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Matt Mullan
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Matt Symons, 20 James Gaskell, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Alapati Leiua
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Michael Young, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Evan Olmstead, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Ben Sowrey, 1 Sam Lockwood
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 David Wilson, 19 Will Witty, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Fred Burdon
