A penalty from Henry Paul deep into stoppage time put Gloucester back on top of the Zurich Premiership, but it was cruel luck for the Newcastle Falcons.

A try by Falcons substitute Epi Taione a minute into injury time looked to have grabbed a draw for Newcastle.

But Paul's penalty, with the last kick of the game, kept Gloucester's perfect start to the season going and left the home players devastated.

It was a thrilling end to a hard-fought game in which the home side were again over-reliant on the boot of skipper Jonny Wilkinson, who scored four penalties and one conversion.

Junior Paramore had gone over in the first half for Gloucester in an often scrappy opening period that saw both defences on top.

Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier and Wilkinson exchanged penalties early in the game before the Frenchman missed a simple chance to put Gloucester 9-6 ahead after 16 minutes.

Newcastle lock Hugh Vyvyan was sent to the sin bin moments later.

Gloucester took advantage of their extra man and Paramore dived on the ball after a sustained period of pressure close to the Newcastle line from the powerful visitors' pack.

Mercier's successful conversion gave Gloucester a seven-point cushion.

Newcastle immediately went on the attack and earned a penalty in the 23rd minute, which Wilkinson converted to narrow the gap to four points.

Wilkinson was on hand to strike another mighty blow from the halfway line after 30 minutes to bring Newcastle within a point at half-time.

There was an early flashpoint after the interval when French prop Patrice Collazo needlessly took out Jamie Noon off the ball and received a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Newcastle looked to take advantage of Gloucester's 14 men by bringing on Tongan flanker Taione.

But it was Gloucester who went on the attack and Mercier had a good chance to stretch their lead, but he scuffed a simple kick from 20 metres out.