Wilkinson whips wayward Wasps

Jonny Wilkinson has got Newcastle out of some scrapes in his time, but as his forwards were scraping the barrel for some workable possession and Wasps lost their discipline and shape, Wilkinson kicked the life out of them with eight penalties from nine attempts; the solitary miss being from 10 metres inside the Newcastle half.

Wasps will be kicking themselves for letting a game they could have had in the bag before half-time slip from their grasp by conceding 26 penalties to just six by the home side, who allowed Wasps just four shots at goal, only for Alex King to miss with a first-half penalty, though he did convert both tries of a disjointed and, ultimately, disappointing match.

To make matters worse, Josh Lewsey, Wasps' most effective attacking back, suffered a serious leg injury, finished the day on crutches and will have a scan today. It was Lewsey who first opened up the home defence, though his pass to Shane Roiser fell to ground and try number one went begging. Then Lawrence Dallaglio, of all people, spilled the ball in attempting to hand what would have been a try-scoring pass to Stuart Abbott.

Mark Denney and Kenny Logan made a similar hash of scoring in the left corner, while Wilkinson, in that unflappable way of his, went about the business of punishing Wasps for their waywardness. Warren Gatland, Wasps' director of rugby, did his best to conceal his anger at the way his side boshed the chance of starting their campaign with a win. "Our discipline was terrible," bemoaned Gatland. "We gave away too many penalties, and got the wrong side of the ref. While they only got into our 22 once. We have to be more accurate and finish better."

Lewsey finished off a sniping, trademark break by Rob Howley for Wasps' first try, though it was Newcastle ahead at the break 9-7, Wilkinson's men having produced nothing which looked as if it might lead to a try. When Denney finished off good work by Howley and Dallaglio to score at the posts, Wasps should have nailed the points.

Instead, Dallaglio was sin-binned for killing the ball and, by the time he returned, Wasps needed a converted try to get on terms. But the sharpness and alacrity which had distinguished their earlier play deserted them and it was left to King to salvage something by kicking a penalty to earn them a bonus point.

Newcastle: Penalties Wilkinson 8. Wasps: Tries Lewsey, Denney. Conversions King 2. Penalty King.

Newcastle: L Botham; J Shaw, J Noon, T May, M Stephenson; J Wilkinson (capt), H Charlton (J Grindal 52); I Peel (M Hurter 75), S Brotherstone (M Thompson 74), M Hurter (M Ward h-t), H Vyvyan, S Grimes, E Taione, P Dowson, J Dunbar (R Devonshire 58).

Wasps: J Lewsey (J Rudd h-t); S Roiser, S Abbott, M Denney, K Logan; A King, R Howley; C Dowd, P Greening (B Gotting 72), W Green (D Molloy 67), S Shaw, R Birkett, J Worsley, P Volley, L Dallaglio (capt).

Referee: R Goodliffe (Sheffield).