Trailing by only two points at the break, a Paul Sackey try with two obvious forward passes in the build-up, and a Josh Lewsey try with a clear-cut midfield obstruction went unpunished as the European champions kept their Premiership hopes alive.

After the high of defeating champions Leicester just three days earlier, the Falcons started the game on the front foot, fullback Alex Tait smashing opposite number Riki Flutey with a bone-crunching hit as he chased his own up-and-under.

Home pressure forced Wasps to concede an early penalty from which Tom May slotted three points from in front, and with lock Mark Sorenson rising high to claim the restart in emphatic fashion, it looked as if there could be a remarkable repeat showing of Sunday's heroics against the Tigers.

Wasps levelled matters with a penalty through England star Danny Cipriani midway through the half as replacement Rob Miller palmed the ball in to touch – Miller having been introduced just three minutes in with Tait leaving the field with a head injury.

Older brother Mathew had missed out on a chance to say an on-field farewell himself due to a late  hip injury, but even in his absence the Falcons battled gamely as former Wasp John Rudd produced a try-saving tackle.

The Londoners finally managed to get over the try line on 26 minutes, as England flanker James Haskell burrowed his way to the whitewash with a blindside snipe in the left corner from a Josh Lewsey break to claim a five-point lead.

Newcastle hit back almost instantly with a stylish and clinical try of their own, Miller jinking, breaking the line and firing a killer pass off the left hand to wide man May, who showed a fine turn of pace to outgas Lewsey for a try down the right hand side.

Again Wasps turned to the back row, and were rewarded for their efforts just after the half hour when Tom Rees tunnelled through a heap of bodies from a close range ruck to score – Cipriani converting from in front of the posts.

Still Newcastle would not lie down, and when a Miller hack downfield and a chase from No.8 Russell Winter produced turnover ball on the Wasps 22, Miller passed wide to Steve Jones who weighted a fabulous cross-field grubber in to the grateful arms of May, who drew the last man to send in Ollie Phillips for a slick team try in the right corner.

Miller's narrow miss from the touchline conversion saw the Falcons trail by just two points at half-time, but three minutes in came the killer try as England wing Paul Sackey sprinted 50 metres down the right to score for a try, the build-up to which contained two clear forward passes and eminated from questionable ruck play under the Wasps posts.

Cipriani converted for a nine-point lead, but the Falcons were boosted by the introduction of debutant back row Peter Browne, who won a superb turnover with his first ever play in the Guinness Premiership, using his frame to full effect as he pinched ruck ball from the visitors.

A bits-and-pieces second half with little in the way of incident ensured a low-key end to proceedings, replacement scrum half Micky Young livening the crowd for the closing minutes with his abrasive enterprise while Rudd, against his former team mates, continued to hit the gain line with ball in hand.

A Cipriani penalty effectively killed the game off, with a young Newcastle side finding itself starved of possession despite a Geoff Parling turnover and an interception from South African No.8 Winter.

With Wasps searching for a crucial bonus point they finally got their wish with just four minutes to go, again in controversial style as a blocking runner prevented the home defence from getting to Lewsey, who raced under the posts to seal the deal.

Newcastle Falcons:

Tries: May, Phillips
Pens: May

London Wasps:

Tries: Haskell, Rees, Lewsey, Sackey
Cons: Cipriani 3
Pens: Cipriani 2

Newcastle Falcons:

15 Alex Tait (Rob Miller, 13)
14 Ollie Phillips
13 Tom May
12 Tim Visser
11 John Rudd
10 Steve Jones
9 Hall Charlton (Micky Young, 59)

1 Micky Ward (David Wilson, 48)
2 Matt Thompson (Ross Batty, 68)
3 Carl Hayman (Micky Ward, 68)
4 Geoff Parling
5 Mark Sorenson (Andy Perry, 62)
6 Phil Dowson (captain, Peter Browne, 53)
7 Brent Wilson (Ed Williamson, 48)
8 Russell Winter

London Wasps:

15 Riki Flutey
14 Paul Sackey
13 Fraser Waters (Mark Van Gisbergen, 50)
12 Dominic Waldouck
11 Josh Lewsey
10 Danny Cipriani (Jeremy Staunton, 76)
9 Eoin Reddan

1 Tim Payne
2 Joe Ward (James Buckland, 59)
3 Pat Barnard (Tom French, 50, Joe Ward, 75)
4 George Skivington (Simon Shaw, 59)
5 Richard Birkett
6 James Haskell
7 Tom Rees
8 John Hart (captain, Joe Worsley, 68)

Referee: Rob Debney
Attendance: 10,200