Wasps fall to defeat in cup tie

Wasps crashed out of the Rugby Premiership Cup after losing 34-27 to Newcastle Falcons.

Scott Barrow’s side started the game in fine fettle, racing into a 24-17 half-time lead.

Falcons came out with a point to prove in the second half and wasted no time in turning the game on its head, getting ahead 29-27.

Wasps came agonisingly close to retaking the lead when a drop-goal attempt went wide, before the hosts sealed victory with a late try.

James Tunney, Michael van Vuuren and Ollie Hartley scored the tries for Wasps, whilst Tommy Matthews earned 12 points.

Barrow fielded 11 debutants for the clash and couldn’t have been prouder of their performance:

"We've come up with a great performance. The effort you cannot fault, we were outstanding in that department.

"The young lads have together in a week, really, and we've come up with a good performance.

"It was just a matter of trying to get us on the same page, as quick as possible. I think seeing the team run and everyone knowing the detail, we were quite fluid in the team run and I was happier with the way we're going here. There's a performance in us if we put in the right amount of effort, we saw that today, we got that.

"We take loads away, absolutely loads away. Especially the debutants, they've got to play at a level they've never played at before. The lads who have played at that level, set a good example for them. They set the level, this is where we need to be and those lads stepped up and got to that level. Can we repeat it? We don't know, we will have to see what the squad looks like next week, but for a one-off performance, to come to Kingston Park against a good team, get to that level and stay there, and be in with a chance of winning it, it's very pleasing."

Wasps return to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday in a local derby with Leicester Tigers.