Wilkinson tore the medial ligament in his right knee in September

Newcastle (23) 26
Tries: Tait, Thompson, Wilson
Con: Wilkinson
Pens: Wilkinson 2
Drop: Wilkinson

Bristol (6) 21
Tries: Robinson, Ward-Smith
Con: Strange
Pens: Strange 3

Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicked 11 points on his latest return from injury as the Falcons hung on for victory at Kingston Park.

The Falcons dominated the first half with centre Mathew Tait, hooker Matt Thompson and Brent Wilson all scoring to put Newcastle 23-6 ahead.

League leaders Bristol fought back with tries from Lee Robinson and Daniel Ward-Smith but it was not enough.

Wilkinson and Tait, returning after a thigh problem, played the whole game.

Wilkinson has been out since damaging knee ligaments on 8 September, the latest in a series of injuries that have kept him out of the England side since the 2003 World Cup final.

Neck, groin, abductor, biceps and two knee ligament injuries have restricted him to just 15 Premiership starts since that night in Sydney, though he did make the Lions tour to New Zealand in the summer of 2005.

Wilkinson was outstanding - to come back after eight weeks on the sidelines was exceptional Bristol coach Richard Hill

And apart from his drop goal, two penalties and conversion against Bristol, he was also twice involved in the build-up to Tait's seventh-minute try.

Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher said: "Jonny has got a few bumps and bruises and I'm sure he'll feel it tomorrow but he is so fit we decided to leave him on for the full 80 minutes.

"I thought his first-half performance was outstanding and he is one of the players who can make a real difference. He makes the team tick with his energy and his drive."

Bristol head coach Richard Hill added: "Wilkinson was outstanding. To come back after eight weeks on the sidelines was exceptional and you could see he was hungry for it."

The try-scoring display from Tait will also lift England coach Andy Robinson, who had to leave out the centre from his plans for Sunday's clash with New Zealand because of a slight thigh muscle tear.

Newcastle's win eases the pressure on Fletcher, who is now celebrating his side's second Premiership win of the season.

Bristol, who could not get over the line in a tense climax despite a huge amount of late pressure, still top the table despite their first defeat of the campaign.

Hill said: "It was a real kick up the backside and we have learned a lesson and we will be a different side when we play Sale next weekend.

"We have to learn to deal with the expectation of being favourites.

"Perhaps we were a little overconfident but, when Newcastle gained parity up front, we knew it was going to be difficult because they can damage you behind the scrum.

"At half-time it looked pretty grim for us but we did come back and could have nicked it at the end."

Newcastle: Burke; May, Tait, Flood, Rudd; Wilkinson, Dickson; Golding, Thompson, Ward; Perry, McCarthy; Parling, Woods, Wilson.
Replacements: Wilson, Long, Tomes, Harris, Mayerhofler, Grindal, Hoyle

Bristol: Morgan; Robinson, Higgitt, Hill, Lemi; Strange, O'Riordan; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Llewellyn; Budgett, To'oala, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Blaney, Thompson, Sambucetti, El Abd, Nicholls, Cox, Taumalolo.