London Irish (3) 11
Try: Hala'ufia Pens: Lamb 2 Drop-goals: Lennard
Newcastle (12) 15
Pens: Gopperth 5

Jimmy Gopperth kicked five penalties for the Falcons

London Irish slipped to defeat by Newcastle to record their first Guinness Premiership loss since the opening day of the season.

Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth slotted home four first-half penalties as the Falcons went to the break 12-3 up.

The Exiles recuced the deficit to one point through a Jamie Lennard drop-goal and Chris Hala'ufia try.

But the hosts were unable to capitalise, and Newcastle's win was sealed by a further Gopperth penalty.

London Irish coach Toby Booth:

"I'm not best pleased, for obvious reasons. I'm disappointed by the nature of the defeat.

"Newcastle were very workmanlike and grafting, they deserve some credit, but it took us 40 minutes to get our intensity and we then looked more like the side we are.

"The first 15 minutes of the second half were excellent, but it's taken us 40 minutes to get there - and that's not acceptable."

Newcastle boss Steve Bates:

"I'm really pleased for the boys, they worked hard this week on a specific game-plan and that's worked for us.

"We wanted to keep in touch with the game and maybe frustrate Irish a bit.

"It was a really physical, quick game but we kept our shape. That's the benefit of us having time together."

London Irish: Lennard, Hewat, Seveali'i, Gower, Rudd, Lamb, Richards, Dermody, Coetzee, Ion, Kennedy, Casey, Roche, S. Armitage, Hala'ufia.
Replacements: Catt for Gower (51), Malone for Lamb (51), Paice for Coetzee (55), Corbisiero for Ion (55), Perry for Kennedy (69), Fisher for Hala'ufia (69).
Not Used: Murphy, Watson.

Newcastle: A. Tait, Williams, Vickerman, Tu'ipulotu, Amesbury, Gopperth, Young, Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Hudson, Sorenson, Swinson, Welch, Balding.
Replacements: Bobo for Williams (51), Williamson for Welch (71), Afu for Balding (59).
Not Used: Walker, Ward, Ovens, Charlton, Miller.

Attendance: 9,425

Referee: Martin Fox

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