BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | English | Sale blown away by Falcons

Newcastle Falcons 31-20 Sale Sharks

Sale once again failed to record their first Premiership win at Newcastle as Jonny Wilkinson guided the Falcons to victory.

Jonny Wilkinson demonstrates his peerless kicking style
Wilkinson's kicking proved crucial for the Falcons
Newcastle had the benefit of a powerful wind behind them and Wilkinson had no hesitation in peppering the corner flag.

A Wilkinson penalty duly opened the scoring but then Sale grabbed a surprise lead.

When Hugh Vyvyan was penalised for playing the ball on the ground Nick Walshe kicked to level the scores.

From the restart, Pete Anglesea gathered in and made progress before slipping the ball to Graeme Bond.

Given the conditions we dominated the first half and I was disappointed we gave them 10 points. It could have been 24-0 at half-time

Falcons coach
Rob Andrew

The Australian centre fed Steve Hanley and the winger stormed clear from 60 metres to score a great try.

Neither Michael Stephenson nor full-back Mark Wilkinson managed to get in a tackle.

Six minutes later and Newcastle were back on level terms.

After Wilkinson kicked a penalty to the corner the ball was gathered in at the line out and Jon Dunbar was driven over, with Wilkinson converting.

And from the next line-out following a Wilkinson penalty, a swift move saw Jamie Noon left clear to run in a simple try.

There was a 12-minute gap to the next try and this time it was prop forward Ian Peel who was driven over.

Wilkinson landed both conversions and ended the half with a monster 63-metre penalty attempt that dropped only inches short.

Match details

Newcastle 31
Tries: Dunbar, Noon, Peel, Charlton
Cons: J Wilkinson (4)
Pens: J Wilkinson

Sale 20
Tries: Hanley, Walshe
Cons: Walshe (2)
Pens: Walshe (2)

With a 24-10 lead at the break, Newcastle had the luxury of bringing on Phil Godman at fly-half to pick up some experience, with Wilkinson moving to centre.

Walshe pulled back three points for Sale with a penalty but the Falcons went on to score a fourth try to secure a bonus point.

The build-up inevitably came from a Wilkinson penalty to touch.

Three times the Falcons rolled it to the line and three times Sale were penalised, with Phil Davies finally yellow carded.

Newcastle then took the scrum and Hall Charlton nipped in to score, with Wilkinson duly slotting his fourth conversion.

Newcastle: M Wilkinson, Botham, Noon, May, Stephenson, J Wilkinson, Charlton, Peel, Brotherstone, Hurter, Hamilton, Grimes, Dunbar, Arnold, Vyvyan. Replacements: Grindal, Godman, Isaacson, Thompson, Springgay, Dowson, Otuvaka.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Deane, Bond, Hanley, Walshe, Redpath, Thorp, Titterrell, Stewart, Schofield, Day, Davies, Pinkerton, Anglesea. Replacements: Marais, Yates, Turner, Perelini, Lund, Harris, Going.

Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).


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