Leeds: (8) 11 Tries: Regan Pens: Ross (2) Newcastle: (12) 15 Pens: Walder, Wilkinson (3) Drops: Wilkinson

The England captain kicked three penalties and a drop-goal, with Dave Walder landing the other three points.

Wilkinson replaced the injured Epi Taione after 20 minutes, with Walder moving to centre.

Falcons led 12-8 at half time despite a Mark Regan try for Leeds but Wilkinson was the difference in front of a bumper 14,293 crowd.

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew admitted Wilkinson could start the Falcons' next game but acknowledged the importance of stand-in Walder.

"Wilkinson came on earlier than we had planned but he could have started and may start our next game but I won't decide until next week," said Andrew.

"It has been right for the club, right for him and right for Dave Walder for him to come back slowly.

"Dave has played well for the club for the last 18 months and you have to remember that we are just getting Jonny fit and he'll be going off with England and I'll have to ask Dave to win games for us again."

Leeds coach Phil Davies was frustrated that his side lacked a ruthless streak.

"We were just not clinical enough in key situations and didn't get the reward for our build-up play," he said.

"We played quite well for the first 25 minutes but in the second half we weren't able to open it out as much as we would have liked.

"We have worked a lot on our forwards' driving play and it showed in the try we scored."

Leeds: Stimpson, Cardey, Christophers, Snyman, Biggs, Ross, McMillan, Shelley, Regan, Gerber, Morgan, Palmer, Dunbar, Parks, Rigney.
Replacements: Holt, Kerr, Murphy, Hyde, Dickens, Wright, Rees.

Newcastle: Burke, May, Noon, Taione, Tait, Walder, Grindal, Peel, Long, Hurter, Grimes, Buist, Charvis, Harris, Dowson.
Replacements: Isaacson, Ward, Sititi, McCarthy, J. Wilkinson, Shaw, Charlton.