By ROB WILDMAN

NEWCASTLE continue to defy the pundits and thoroughly deserved this win over a flat and depleted Wasps team.
Dean Richards’ unheralded squad have taken their Premiership rivals by surprise and were always in control of this contest to add to those closer wins over Sale and Bath.
Both teams scored three tries but Newcastle led 27-5 after 53 minutes and Wasps needed a muscular finish to cut the deficit into a more respectable scoreline.
“We will come a cropper at some stage but the plan is to keep it going,” said a delighted Richards.
Even the most devoted Geordie would ne...