Newcastle Falcons got their season well and truly going on Friday, treating the Kingston Park crowd to a memorable comeback victory over London Wasps.

Trailing 17-3 in a blood-and-guts Aviva Premiership Rugby clash, the hosts rallied magnificently to surge their way home.

The Falcons found themselves behind in bizarre fashion as early as the second minute, as Mark Van Gisbergen’s missed penalty attempt was followed up by Tom Varndell. With the Newcastle defence standing still behind their own line the England speedster was allowed to touch down the loose ball, Van Gisbergen adding the conversion to one of the most extraordinary tries in recent memory.

Former Falcon Dave Walder pulled the driver out of the bag for a long-range penalty attempt, but his 50-metre effort from wide out on the left dropped just inches short as the lead remained at seven.

Tim Ryan got Newcastle going with a bullocking charge down the right flank, but with handling errors creeping in there was little in the way of fluency during the opening exchanges.

The hosts finally got themselves off the mark as Micky Young’s hack through paved the way for Luke Eves to attack, the ensuing ruck seeing Wasps midfield penalised for offside as Jimmy Gopperth sent over a penalty from out on the 22.

The Londoners extended their lead midway through the half, however, as Ben Jacobs rounded off a length-of-the-field counter attack. Stemming from a Falcons kick downfield, the ball was worked through five pairs of hands before the Aussie centre’s supporting run saw him cross the line for a converted score.

Only a shuddering try-saver from Gcobani Bobo on Richard Haughton prevented a third score as Wasps’ wingers combined well down the right, but with the visitors’ territorial kicking seeing Newcastle pegged back in their half for the most part, attacking chances were few and far between.

Wasps turned to the boot for their next three points as referee JP Doyle blew in their favour from a collapsed scrum, Van Gisvergen sending over the penalty from 40 metres out in front.

Newcastle showed their adventure by turning down a kickable penalty just after the half hour, opting for the line out which eventually saw home debutant Redford Pennycook crash over the try line on a short-range pick and go.

Gopperth converted to reduce the deficit to seven, and within seconds had shaved off another three as he drilled over a monster of a penalty from the halfway line from scrum pressure for a 17-13 half-time scoreline in Wasps’ favour.

The Falcons started the second half the brighter, claiming a line out inside their own 22 and driving forward for Micky Young, Charlie Amesbury and Rob Vickers to mount the counter.

Hauled down just five metres short, the attacking scrum saw Tim Swinson driven over from the very next phase as the lock forward used every inch of his frame to power over the line for a converted score.

Gopperth’s conversion took the hosts’ lead to three, but there was controversy shortly after as referee Doyle ruled out what appeared at first glance to be a successful drop goal effort from the fly half.

The three points were not long in coming though as Gopperth slotted over his third penalty of the night from an Andy Powell offside.

That was followed on the hour mark by his fourth as the crowd of 5,196 – bigger than the first home league game of last season – gradually started to believe.

Wasps showed their attacking intent for the remaining quarter as Dave Walder was replaced by Steve Kefu – Riki Flutey switching to stand-off duties.

But there was no relenting on the scoreboard as Gopperth slammed home a penalty from the halfway line, a kick of more than 50 metres accounting for the angle.

The final ten minutes saw Wasps camped in the Falcons’ 22 exerting forward pressure, and they played out the remainder a man to the good as home No.8 Ally Hogg was sin-binned for an offence in the ruck.

Defensive pressure told as a fired-up Falcons blitz forced a crucial knock on just in front of their own posts, the South Stand lapping up the big impact as Newcastle tacklers flew into their men at full speed to create the error.

Despite their numerical inferiority the home pack played out the final moments expertly running down the clock, as the feelgood factor returned to Kingston Park on a joyous final whistle.

Newcastle Falcons

Tries: Pennycook, Swinson
Cons: Gopperth 2
Pens: Gopperth 5

London Wasps

Tries: Varndell, Jacobs
Cons: Van Gisbergen 2
Pens: Van Gisbergen

Newcastle Falcons

15 Luke Fielden (Alex Tait, 50)
14 Gcobani Bobo
13 Luke Eves
12 Andy Henderson (Jeremy Manning, 65)
11 Charlie Amesbury
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Micky Young (Chris Pilgrim, 73)

1 Jon Golding (Grant Shiells, 73)
2 Rob Vickers
3 Tim Ryan (Kieran Brookes, 65)
4 James Hudson (captain)
5 Tim Swinson (Glen Townson, 73)
6 Brent Wilson (Will Welch, 50)
7 Redford Pennycook
8 Ally Hogg

London Wasps

15 Mark Van Gisbergen
14 Richard Haughton (David Lemi, 73)
13 Ben Jacobs
12 Riki Flutey
11 Tom Varndell
10 Dave Walder (Steve Kefu, 60)
9 Nic Berry (Charlie Davies, 46)

1 Tim Payne
2 Rob Webber
3 Zak Taulafo (Ben Broster, 43)
4 Simon Shaw
5 James Cannon
6 Dan Ward-Smith
7 Tom Rees (captain)
8 Andy Powell (Joe Worsley, 71)

Referee: JP Doyle
Attendance: 5,196