Wasps moved closer to securing a berth in the Guinness Premiership play-offs with an assured 32-13 defeat of Newcastle at Kingston Park.

The result lifted Ian McGeechan's team to third place, and means only defeat to Leeds Carnegie on Saturday coupled with a Harlequins victory at Leicester can deny them a spot in the semi-finals.

Newcastle took an early lead via the boot of Tom May, but Danny Cipriani soon responded in kind to set the tone for a tight first half.

The first try of the match came just short of the half-hour mark. England winger Paul Sackey made a powerful burst, and the Wasps pack did the rest, allowing James Haskell to drive over.

Just two minutes later, the Falcons had a score of their own. 18-year-old Rob Miller was the architect, jinking inside to feed May for his second try in as many games.

There was still time before the interval for flanker Tom Rees to go over for Wasps before Ollie Philips collected Steve Jones's chip to reduce the deficit to 17-13 at half-time.

The second half would prove a markedly less balanced affair. Wasps raised their game and exerted their superiority.

Just three minutes in, Sackey raced away to give the visitors a 22-13 lead and although Newcastle defended bravely they eventually succumbed to Josh Lewsey's late effort which gave Wasps their bonus point.

Ultimately the gulf in class was all too evident, as a Newcastle side bereft of Matthew Tait, Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson struggled to dictate the match and their forwards had no answer to Wasps' rampant pack - who coped admirably without the rested trio of Lawrence Dallaglio, Raphael Ibanez and Tom Voyce.

Will Tidey / Eurosport