WASPS sent Newcastle to their 20th successive Premiership defeat this afternoon as they made it two from two at Adams Park this season with a 35-18 victory.

Without quite hitting their Sunday best, they were too lethal in attack and too stubborn in defence for a spirited Falcons side to really threaten them.

Dai Young’s team also got the four tries they wanted to make it a five-point win that catapults them up to fourth place, level on 11 points with London Irish.

Wasps conceded the first points of the match after giving away a needless penalty with three minutes gone, but the home team quickly got on top of their opponents.

Rob Miller was particularly eye-catching in the early stages while their scrum was a significant and increasingly notable area of strength, and it was from there that they scored the first try with 17 minutes gone.

Joe Simpson attacked off a solid base in the centre of the field and superb hands from centres Elliot Daly and Alapati Leiua sent Tom Varndell scampering clear.

By then Wasps had already created two good opportunities, with Andy Goode unable to find Varndell on the first occasion after a majestic Daly pass, while the second chance went begging as the wingers fumbled with men outside him.

The threat was there though, and after both fly halves had traded penalties Wasps strung the phases together beautifully to cross again with 29 minutes played.

James Gaskell was the beneficiary after Ashley Johnson had broken the line, and although Ruki Tipuna got Newcastle’s first score just before the interval, Wasps reached the half way point 17-11 in front and half way towards their target of a bonus point win.

With Christian Wade, Nathan Hughes and Andrea Masi on the bench – Joe Launchbury and Chris Bell were left out completely – they certainly had enough fresh firepower to finish the job.

Two Goode penalties eased them into a 23-11 lead after 50 minutes, but they were struggling to inject the pace into their game needed to break down a stubborn Falcons side and in fact it was the visitors who came closest to scoring next.

Replacement forward Alex Rogers thought he’d done it when he powered over the line from close range, but the wily Simpson was underneath him and his gutsy effort did just enough to force the ball from Rogers’ hand a moment before he grounded it.

Suitably stirred, Wasps raced upfield to score their third try and again Johnson was the provider as he showed a backs’ subtle hands to take a ball behind him one-handed and then a forwards’ power to surge another 20m before off loading to Varndell.

From 30m out he did the rest, and the touchline conversion from Miller, playing at ten after Masi had come on for Goode, made it 30-11.

All that remained was the try bonus, and with 15 minutes left Hughes and Wade came on to try and provide it.

And he did.

The indestructive Johnson sparked it when he wrestled the ball out of Newcastle’s hands inside his own 22 and fed Miller, whose up and under invited Wade to chase.

Sinoti Sinoti gathered cleanly on the half way line and made a few yards, but Wade felled him and then robbed him before weaving forwards.

With his path blocked, a cute offload sent Miller tearing through a gap and the bonus point was secure.

Newcastle did have the last say with a penalty try when Wade was absurdly yellow carded for a deliberate slap down as he tried to intercept, but it was job done for the black and golds.