Great North Win

If rugby games were decided on territory the Kingston Park contest would have been stopped after an hour. Instead, we were made to wait it out as a plucky Falcons refused to lie down as they were pumelled by a resurgent and determined Wasps. Still we will take our 20-18 win given how things have gone recently.

The main  talking point will probably be whether Josh Bassett was deliberately gouged by Mateo Carreras as the Wasps man tried to force the ball down over the line.

No doubt the blazers will rule in due course on whether it was deliberate or whether the Argentinians fingers were seeking he ball to hold it up. Fortunately Bassett seemed none the worse for his unpleasant moment.

Falcons started the better with tries from Marco Fuser and George Wacokecoke giving them an 18-6 lead at half time.

Joe Launchbury (right) was back to add his muscle and experience and appeared to be getting increasingly frustrated that his side were not getting the rub of the green

A different story in the second half with one way traffic eventually seeing Brad Shields forced over.

The home side lost two to the bin in rapid succession as pressure piled on them - lock Greg Peterson and skipper Micky Young taking the enforced rest. We took advantage with West coming off the bench to score at the foot of the post to claim our second try.

In truth all our pressure should have produced a much clearer winning margin, and with the sin-bins over Falcons did their best to squeeze out an unlikely win. Fortunately, they were kept bay.

Falcons: Tries: Fuser, Wacokecoke. Con: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 2.

Wasps: Tries: Shields, West Cons: Gopperth 2 Pens: Gopperth 2