Irish did just enough to outdo the Falcons

An injury-time try by Simon Halford gave London Irish the unlikeliest of victories as they knocked Newcastle out of the Powergen Cup.

Despite dominating both territory and possession, the Exiles rarely looked like scoring throughout the contest.

And the 16-5 scoreline in the final minute reflected the Falcons' greater invention.

But Neil Hatley barged his way over in the 80th minute to cut the lead to seven.

Halford's score three minutes into injury time left replacement fly-half Mark Mapletoft with a conversion to win the match which he calmly slotted over the uprights.

Liam Botham kept Newcastle's scoring ticking over throughout the match as stand-in kicker for the injured Jonny Wilkinson.

I feel sorry for Newcastle - it's a horrible way to lose but it's a great result for us London Irish rugby director Conor O'Shea

He succeeded with two penalties in the opening 20 minutes.

Newcastle's lead was stretched to 11-0 with a Tom May try six minutes before the interval, as Irish were caught trying too hard to be creative.

With Irish spreading the ball wide, it was intercepted by Craig Newby who eventually ran out of steam but laid off for Falcons centre May to run in.

Mike Worsley managed to give the visitors something to cheer about on the stroke of half-time as he drove over with Declan Danaher.

But Everitt, who had early missed a penalty, failed with the conversion.

It certainly looked as if we were going to win in the last 20 minutes Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew

His kicking showed no signs of improving as he missed two separate penalty chances after the break before he was finally replaced.

The unflappable Botham, in contrast, maintained his 100% record on the hour mark to stretch Newcastle's lead to 16-5.

Irish tried to lift the tempo towards the end of the second half which led to last-ditch tries from both Hatley and Halford, both men doing just enough to bulldoze through the exhausted Falcons defence.

Mapletoft, on in place of Everitt and having missed an earlier conversion, then sealed a dramatic victory with the final kick of the match.

Newcastle: Noon, Botham, May, Mayerhofler, Shaw, Godman, Charlton, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Hamilton, Grimes, Taione, Dowson, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Grindal, M. Wilkinson, Christian, Newby, Ward, Isaacson, Otuvaka.

London Irish: Horak, Bishop, Burrows, Venter, Sackey, Everitt, Edwards, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick, Kennedy, Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Martens, Mapletoft, Dawson, Kirke, Delaney, Hatley, Halford.

Referee: Steve Leyshon (RFU)