Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan wants their dramatic 23-17 win at Newcastle to kick-start their Guinness Premiership season.
Wasps boss wants good run after ending losing streak
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan wants their dramatic 23-17 win at Newcastle to kick-start their Guinness Premiership season.
Both sides had lost three on the spin before Friday night, and with only minutes remaining it was still in the balance, until Charlie Beech drove over to hand Wasps a vital victory.
The sin-binning of Newcastle's Ed Williamson for a spear tackle ten minutes before the end was a vital moment in the match, but regardless McGeechan was just thrilled to get the win.
After losing out late on against Sale in their last game, struggling Wasps would have been distraught at losing another close battle.
Victory
"A win is everything, we produced some very good forward play which is why the penalties came," said McGeechan.
"It would have been very difficult to have suffered another last-minute defeat."
When asked if the result could be a turning point, the Scot said: "I hope so, it's been very difficult playing without 12 or 13 men (away on international duty or injured), and we can now press on when we get our England boys back next week."
Tries at the start of each half from Danny Williams and Tom May had put Newcastle in the game, but former Falcon Dave Walder kicked six penalties for Wasps to edge them in front.
After the Falcons had led 17-15 after May's try, Walder's final kick put Wasps in front and the late Beech try sealed it, and Newcastle boss Steve Bates was left to rue ill discipline from his troops.
"We will have to look at the penalty count, you cannot afford to give 15 points away for indiscipline," he said.
