MATCH DETAILS Newcastle (8) 23 Tries: Burke Pen: Wilkinson (6) London Irish (10) 16 Tries: Armitage Cons: Everitt Pens: Everitt (3) Att: 9,328

Wilkinson scored six penalties and played with increasing assurance in a performance that should book his ticket on the Lions' plane to New Zealand.

Despite losing, London Irish secured the bonus point they needed to secure their Zurich Premiership status.

The win also kept the Falcons' hopes of Heineken Cup place alive.

The game turned into a kicking contest between fly-halves Barry Everitt and Wilkinson, with the England captain coming out on top.

Everitt slotted a conversion and three penalties but was topped by Wilkinson's 18-point tally.

Australian Matt Burke grabbed Newcastle's only try of the game with the Exiles' full-back Dylan Armitage grabbing their only five-pointer.

Irish don't play a lot of rugby, but if that's the way they want to play then good luck to them Rob Andrew Newcastle boss

Newcastle now face a Zurich Wildcard semi-final clash against Gloucester on 8 May with the last Heineken Cup qualification place the ultimate prize.

But director of rugby Rob Andrew was far from happy despite the win.

"There are certain days, in certain games against certain opposition, with certain referees where you just have to find a way of winning," he said.

"London Irish don't play a lot of rugby, but if that's the way they want to play then good luck to them.

We came here with positive intentions to play rugby Gary Gold London Irish boss

"We had a referee who hadn't refereed in the league for six weeks and it showed."

London Irish boss Gary Gold dismissed Andrew's criticism that his team slowed down play.

"We came here with positive intentions to play rugby and I think we showed that - we had a go at them," he said.

"We haven't had a guy all season who has been good enough to slow the ball down - I wish we had. It's bizarre."

London Irish: Horak; Staniforth, Appleford, Mordt, Armitage; Everitt, Hodgson; Hatley, Flavin, Hardwick; Strudwick, Casey; Gustard, Dawson, Reid.
Replacements: Mapletoft for Mordt (68), Roche for Gustard (30), Murphy for Mapletoft (70). Not Used: Wheatley, Paice, Kennedy, Barrett.

Referee: Roy Maybank (Kent).