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Jimmy Gopperth’s third penalty, four minutes from time clinched a tense 9-8 win for Wasps over battling Newcastle.

The Kiwi fly half was successful with three of his four shots at goal in awful wet, windy conditions.

By contrast, his opposite number, former Wasps favourite Andy Goode, managed to accept only one of his four opportunities. Although Falcons’ Nili Latu scored the day’s only try, this ultimately proved the difference between the teams.

This result meant Dai Young’s team have extended their recent good run to four wins in five starts, and their unbeaten run against Newcastle to five matches.

It also ensures they stay in play-off contention ahead of a tricky-looking sequence of matches against Saracens, Bath and Harlequins.

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Newcastle had first use of the elements, and set out to pepper the hosts’ back three with high balls at every opportunity. However, the returing Christian Wade and ex-Falcon Rob Miller dealt with eveything Goode threw at them.

Wasps conceded too many penalties playing against the wind, and this soon gave their former fly half two chances to open the scoring. But he was wide on both occasions from around 35 metres on a day which proved problematic for the kickers.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Wasps best move ended with former Falcons’ No.10 Gopperth putting them on the board.

Josh Bassett and Thomas Young both carried strongly as the hosts kept the ball through multiple phases, and after conceding 70 metres, Newcastle eventually infringed on the ground in front of their own posts.

Wasps’ lead was short-lived though, as they were immediately caught offside, and Goode accepted the 30 metre chance with a solid kick.

Newcastle’s best attack ended the half, but the pick-and-drive sequence which followed Goode’s break was well held by the home defence, then eventually penalised.

The fact that the first half contained 15 lineouts provided a good indication of how much both sides had relied on the boot in terrible conditions. As the rain intensified there was no let-up after the break either, and fittingly Wasps nearly claimed the opening try from a kick.

Wade gathered a fly hack after Gopperth chipped ahead, but the TMO adjudged him in front of the kicker and the try was disallowed.

Worse followed for the hosts, as Newcastle put the resulting penalty into the corner, then shunted influential flanker Nili Latu over for a textbook driving lineout try.

Goode missed a simple conversion, but going behind sparked Wasps into life, and their forwards drove deep into the visitors’ 22.

With a try looking a distinct possiblity, Newcastle’s Italian international wing Giamba Venditti killed the all on the ground. He was duly shown a yellow card, and Gopperth’s penalty closed the gap to two points.

A neat Wasps move then sent Cannon loping to the corner, but play was called back for a forward pass.

As nerves and tempers started to fray in the closing stages, Newcastle handed Wasps two chances to win the match.

Gopperth was marginally short from 45 metres after the visitors infringed at a scrum, but he made no mistake from five metres closer with four minutes remaining.

This left Newcastle time to seek a late clincher, but Wasps repulsed their final surge to claim the narrowest of wins.

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