But most of the focus was on England duo Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall, who were both forced off in the second half after suffering injuries.
Toby Flood scored the only try of the night and kicked two penalties, while Wilkinson landed two penalties and a conversion before he went off.
Gloucester managed three Ryan Lamb penalties and one from Willie Walker.
Wilkinson, Newcastle's injury-prone fly-half, came off in the 55th minute after suffering a rib injury.
Tindall was carried off after a collision with fellow England man Flood and will have an X-ray to determine if he has broken his leg.
Gloucester boss Dean Ryan: "I thought it was a poor game and it was decided by a charge down and 70-metre try, and that's going to happen.
"We created the problems for ourselves. We don't need to get carried away, but the need for results has led to us doing that and we have lost our smoothness and cohesion."
Newcastle: Burke; Rudd, M Tait, Noon, Flood; Wilkinson, Dickson; McDonnell, Thompson, Ward, Perry, Buist, Parling, Woods, Dowson.
Replacements: D Wilson, Long, Oakes, B. Wilson, Crichton, Grindal, May.
Gloucester: Balshaw; Bailey, Tindall, Allen, Foster; Lamb, Lawson; Wood, Azam, Nieto, James, Bortolami, Buxton, Boer, Forrester.
Replacements: M. Davies, Forster, Brown, Narraway, Richards, Walker, Keil.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).
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