Wasps overcome Newcastle and atrocious weather

More of this please!
By Loose Head
December 1 2003

In weather conditions so terrible it was like a World Cup match in Australia, Newcastle welcomed Wasps in what was supposed to be a continuation of the Wilkinson fairy-tale. Couldn’t quite figure the build-up myself, he wasn’t playing. Still why let facts get in the way of the hype?

Wasps went to spoil this particular party with a vengeance. This was the last game before Lawrence's come back, and a good win to firmly kill off that "can't win without" jibe would do just nicely.

Right from the start Wasps played a hard driving, ruck game, with quick ball recycled mainly with the forwards. Newcastle were able to defend but the relentlessness of the attack, and the ability of Wasps to secure the ruck for quick release ground away at them.

The inevitable happened when the ball was put out wide within the Newcastle 22 and Voyce went over in the corner to score. The conditions were pretty rough, and van Gisbergen, preferred for kicking duty over the returning Alex King, was unable to make the conversion or a subsequent penalty.

Even though Wasps were playing with a strong (yet unpredictable) wind behind them, they preferred to keep the ball close rather than hoof it downfield and force Newcastle to come back at them into the wind.

Wasps' second try came from as we camped on the Newcastle line. Howley picked and dived but was stopped. He managed to recycle the ball. That well-known flanker Kenny Logan was on hand at the back of the ruck to pick, drive and score.

Newcastle piled on the pressure but the Wasps defensive system worked -- a high risk strategy of two-man gang tackles. Clearly when it worked the attacker is cut in two and the drive is wrecked.

Alex King got hands on ball deep in the Wasps half and relieved pressure by an almighty hoof down field to touch very near the Newcastle 22. The extremely secure Newcastle lineout was disrupted but the ball knocked-on.

The Newcastle scrum went nowhere with heavy weather made of getting out of danger by the Newcastle number 8, who was penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground. Van Gisbergen opted to kick for goal, he had already missed a few, with someone having to hold the ball to stop the wind blowing it off the tee. This time it was Trevor Leota's turn to hold it and this time the kick was good. With the clock at 24 minutes the score was Newcastle 0 Wasps 13.

Playing into the wind, Newcastle had no option other than to run it back, straight into the Wasps defence. They managed to break a couple of tackles and the riskiness of the defensive strategy was exposed. Newcastle shipped the ball, albeit forward, quickly out wide right to Gollings in space, who had a technically straight forward yet long and hard run in to score. With either luck or extremely good judgement, Walder mastered the conditions and banged the conversion straight between the posts.

The boost this gave Newcastle was evident, both for the players and the crowd. Wasps did not panic, but stuck to the knitting pattern. Fast, driving ruck play. Hugh Vyvyan, Newcastle No 8, was warned by the ref when he felt obliged to shove his grubby mitts on the ball at a ruck in the Newcastle 22. The penalty was easy enough even in the conditions of the day. This was the last meaningful action of the first half which ended Newcastle 7 Wasps 16.

The increasing gloom and the less than ideal floodlights made the second half difficult to follow at times. Wasps wanted to continue playing the same way as the first half. Now playing into the blustery wind this was extremely sensible (the only strange thing was why Wasps didn’t kick more with the wind behind them in the first half. But as they scored two tries one presumes they knew what they were doing).

Wasps were awarded a scrum in the Newcastle 22 when at a dead ruck. Joe Worsley picked up at number 8 and went blind. Quick hands and strong running had Logan in at the corner. A referral to the t.v. referee resulted in a knock on being given and the try disallowed (my sources say this was the correct decision).

Two starkly contrasting facets of the game: the Newcastle lineout was near perfect; the Wasps lineout was near pointless. Trevor is a legend in the club and is a hero to many, but he has to get this standard area of the game sorted out. Maybe it is not his fault and I am doing him an injustice. Maybe it's the calls, and the jumpers who can't get their act together. It is impossible for the spectator to know such things. But the fact remains that the Wasps lineout is very dodgy. Trevor's case was not helped by Ben Gotting coming on and having a far superior success rate. In the words of a former Prince of Wales: Something must be done.

Newcastle piled on the pressure but Wasps managed to clear their lines with a kick. The conditions being what they were meant the kick didn't go as far as intended. The Newcastle full back and wing were able to retrieve and although they managed to cross and block a chasing Wasp, they started Newcastle's best handling move to give a try run in under the posts for Tom May.

Newcastle 14 Wasps 16. Rather close for comfort. Not helped by Wasps being back in the Newcastle 22, seemingly well in control. The boost the scoreline gave to Newcastle was enough to force a turnover and a massive wind-assisted launch of the ball down field. The ball bounced everywhere and the chasing Falcon was able to hack further. From inside the Newcastle 22 it was a Wasps throw on our own 5 metre line. A clearance kick from the lineout made little distance and now Newcastle had the lineout. The ball was put quickly along the line. Wasps' defence was superb. The backs ran at the line but were held up and forced sideways. Wasps linout 5 metres out on the other side. Knock on in the lineout – scrum to Newcastle, 5 metres out 15 metres in from the left touchline. Wasps were penalised at the scrum and Newcastle were able to kick for goal and sneak into the lead.

With 65 minutes gone it was Newcastle 17 Wasps 16. After this Ben Gotting was on for Trevor and the lineout became more secure immediately – cause and effect? Too hard to tell.

With the end of normal time just a minute away Fraser broke down the right. He popped to Voyce on his shoulder. Fraser continued in support and received the ball back. Wasps were well into the Newcastle 22 when the ball was taken to ground. Support was there quickly and the ruck secured. Richards had only just come on for a less than 100% Howley. He picked up, a quick show and go and he was through a poorly defended ruck and in to score. The ref was a bit in the way of the Newcastle defence, but I am not sure he had any material effect. Van Gisbergen converted to make it Newcastle 17 Wasps 23 with the game in injury time.

Possibly the most surprising decision of the game was at 81 minutes. Necastle had a penalty in the Wasps half. Walder kicked successfully for goal rather than go for touch and the possible try. Their lineout was fine, so why they didn’t try to close the game out will remain a mystery.

The rest of the game was not for the faint hearted. At 85 minutes a Newcastle penalty too far for a goal kick was booted down for touch on Wasps' 22. It was stolen and hoofed up field and into touch. Not very far, and the whistle didn't go. So it was Newcastle lineout on Wasps 10 metre line. Frantic stuff. The tackling was immense. Newcastle turned over at a ruck and Richards got his hands on it for Wasps. Wary after the last kick of what the wind could do, he tried another show and go but ran into trouble (we are still just outside the Wasps 22).

With the clock on 90 Newcastle got the ball back. The defence, sorry to repeat myself, was superb. There was just no way through and Walder was not interested in even attempting a drop goal to level the game in that wind. Nerves cracked and Newcastle were penalised for holding on in the ruck. The penalty kick into touch ended the game, much to the relief of Wasps. Right result, but Wasps were made to earn it. Final score Newcastle 20 Wasps 23

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Loose Head