Rudd and rain end Falcons' recovery

Wasps 13 Newcastle 1

Do not be fooled by the scoreline. This was no thriller, rather a mutual snuffing-out of two sides with differing ambitions in the Premiership, both looking for a third successive win. A solitary try from bulldozing wing John Rudd helped Wasps get the verdict, but that was to be expected of a team who moved into the play-off positions as a result.

The value to Newcastle of their losing bonus point will become clearer as the season moves on, and on balance their mini-revival has been maintained by this dogged display. "If someone had said to me in advance that we'd take 10 points from our last three games I'd have bitten their hand off," said Rob Andrew, their director of rugby.

"I felt there was only one team trying to play rugby," grumbled Warren Gatland, his Wasps counterpart. An hour after the end, a long line of young autograph-hunters had their patience rewarded by Jonny Wilkinson. Happiness comes in different hues.

Strangely, the opening quarter promised a lot, with Wasps' backs looking dangerous on the firm ground. Then the rain came, which is a kind way to excuse the handling errors that disfigured much of what ensued. Wilkinson, proving his fitness after a bang on the leg during England's defeat of Wales, put over one of two early penalty attempts from long range, Alex King levelled for Wasps, and a pattern of pragmatism over prettiness was set.

Newcastle were missing their venerable Springbok, Mark Andrews, who had succumbed to an ankle injury after last month's morale-lifting wins over Harlequins and Leeds. As a consequence, another meaty South African, Warren Britz, made his Premiership debut in the back row, but was culpable for the only try after 22 minutes. Rudd had already looked lively with a couple of extravagant steps – one of which foxed Wilkinson, no less. When Britz, backpedalling into his 22 to deal with a deft chip from King, batted the ball away from his full-back, Joe Shaw, Rudd rattled through for the score.

King converted for 10-3, and Wilkinson's mood was not improved when he was roundly clattered, man and ball, by Fraser Waters. Soon after the Newcastle No 10's show-and-go was ended by Lawrence Dallaglio; one England vice-captain on another.

Surprisingly, Wasps were unable to prise Newcastle apart again. Wilkinson thumped over a 36th-minute penalty, then, just before half-time, added a dropped goal from a line-out catch at the tail by Stuart Grimes.

The interval was accompanied by news of Bath's win over Saracens, and Newcastle knew that, as things stood, they were heading back to the bottom of the table. They also had Jamie Noon labouring with a twisted left ankle – not the best way for the centre to make an impression ahead of joining up with England tomorrow.

When Rudd left the field with a back strain, he took with him most of what little quality we had seen. And though Wasps were dominant in terms of territory, they were struggling at the line-out and further inconvenienced when Stuart Abbott went to the sin bin for a technical offence. King sliced a drop at goal, then the fly-half and replacement, Kenny Logan, both missed kicks before King made it 13-9 with a penalty after 70 minutes.

Wilkinson replied in kind almost immediately, but though he gathered his men for a final thrust, the winning points were only likely to come through another penalty. Wasps, though muted, were in no mood to let that happen.

Wasps: M Van Gisbergen; J Lewsey, F Waters, S Abbott (M Denney, 13-19), J Rudd (K Logan, 51); A King, R Howley (M Wood, 70); C Dowd, T Leota (P Greening, 54), W Green (A McKenzie, 79), S Shaw, R Birkett, J Worsley, L Dallaglio (capt), P Volley (M Lock, 65).

Newcastle: J Shaw (G Maclure, 54); L Botham, J Noon, M Mayerhofler, M Stephenson; J Wilkinson (capt), J Grindal (H Charlton, 63); I Peel, N Makin, M Hurter (M Ward, 63), C Hamilton, S Grimes, E Taione, H Vyvyan, W Britz (A Mower, 63).

Referee: R Maybank (Kent).