Sale (16) 25
Try: Briggs Con: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 6 Newcastle (11) 32
Tries: Golding, D Williams, Fenby, B Wilson Cons: May 3Pens: May 2
 Sale and Newcastle battled out a thrilling game at Edgeley Park |
Newcastle flanker Brent Wilson scored with two minutes left to give his side their fifth successive Premiership win in a thrilling game at Edgeley Park. The Falcons had looked down and out as a Neil Briggs try and three Charlie Hodgson penalties put Sale 16-3 ahead. But Newcastle responded with a try from prop Jon Golding, while Danny Williams finished well just after half-time. Hodgson kept his side in touch but further tries from Andrew Fenby and then Wilson late on sealed a fine win. Newcastle were one of the teams in relegation trouble at the start of the year but their superb run of form has seen them now conceivably vying for a place in Europe next season. They have now won five games in a row for the first time since the 2001/02 season. And their unlikely victory on Sunday can in part be credited to Kiwi tight-head prop Carl Hayman, whose performance helped destroy the Sale scrum to give his side a solid platform. For Sale, number eight Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe was constantly involved while Hodgson became the highest points scorer in Premiership history.  | 606: DEBATE |
He kicked 20 points on the day as he surpassed Jonny Wilkinson's record haul of 1489 to move to 1492 points. It did not look good for the visitors early on as a combination of indiscipline and Sale tenacity kept Newcastle penned inside their own half. Flanker Briggs got Sale up and running with a close-range try while two Hodgson penalties put the home side 13-0 ahead after just seven minutes. The Falcons slowly started getting back into the game and Tom May converted two penalties before Golding burrowed his way over at the second attempt, after wriggling out of the initial tackle. Newcastle were now within five points and they continued their resurgence two minutes after the break, when they ran back turnover ball deep into Sale's half. With Sale on the back foot, the ball was spread down the line and outside centre Jamie Noon fed Williams to score in the corner. Sale responded immediately and Hodgson added another penalty but Newcastle went six points ahead after pouncing on a dropped ball in midfield - Fenby eventually finding a hole in the Sale defence to score. Two Hodgson penalties levelled the game at 25-25 but Hayman and his fellow Falcons forwards had the final say. Sale were pushed off their own scrum deep near the tryline and flanker Wilson picked up the bobbling ball before diving over for the crucial score.
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"It is a disappointing result and we have a few injuries in what is a crucial period for us - it is not a good at all. "I would have been disappointed with a draw five minutes from time but to then lose the game is very hard to take. "We started well but our second-half performance was poor, but I have to give Newcastle credit for the way they played. "We have around 17 players injured and I am concerned with how tired we looked - we need to freshen up, keep everyone fit and wrap them in cotton wool." Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates:
"It was a tremendous game, a bit nerve-wracking at the end there. We played some good stuff this afternoon and four tries was a fair reflection of a lot of our game. "I am proud of the way they fought back and they dominated possession and territory for the last 20 minutes. "They are a great bunch of guys and deserve this for the tough and hard work and maybe bit of criticism they received early in the season. "We had to restructure our game, it took longer than planned, but we are benefiting from it now."
Sale: McLeod; Bell, M Tait, Thomas, Ripol; Hodgson, Peel; Roberts, M Jones, Turner, Schofield, Cox, White, Briggs, Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: Kuadey for McLeod (78), Keil for Thomas (62), Leck for Peel (68), O'Donnell for Turner (61).
Not Used: Fearns, Cockbain, D Tait. Newcastle: A Tait; D Williams, Noon, Tu'ipulotu, Visser; May, Young; Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Swinson, Sorenson, Dowson, B Wilson, Balding.
Replacements: Fenby for D Williams (46), Charlton for Young (79), Thompson for Vickers (69), Parling for Swinson (66), Winter for Balding (68).
Not Used: Ward, Miller. Sin Bin: Swinson (52). Att: 8,427
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