Premiership: Newcastle 12-46 London Irish

Newcastle (7) 12
Tries: Gopperth, Tait Cons: Gopperth
London Irish (19) 46
Tries: Ojo 3, Joseph 2, Bowden Cons: Lamb 5 Pens: Lamb 2

Ojo took advantage of some Newcastle mistakes

A hat-trick from Topsy Ojo inspired London Irish to a comfortable victory at toothless Newcastle Falcons.

Delon Armitage surged forward and sent Ojo in for the Exiles' first score, before Ojo cut infield for his second.

Jimmy Gopperth's curving run pulled a try back for Falcons, but Jonathan Joseph skipped in for Irish's third.

Interception scores from Ojo and Joseph either side of a Dan Bowden try completed the rout before Alex Tait's late score for well-beaten Newcastle.

With Northampton due to face Saracens on Sunday, Irish knew a win would put them top of the Premiership.

And they took advantage of an error-strewn Falcons performance, which began when Armitage picked up Tait's spilled ball and sent in Ojo for the first of his three tries, all of which were converted by Ryan Lamb.

Ojo got his second after a sublime offload from Seilala Mapusua, but Newcastle hit back through fly-half Gopperth, who took Micky Young's pass over the line and converted the try himself to make it 14-7.

But Irish widened the gap just before half time, the excellent Armitage skinning Gcobani Bobo and releasing Joseph for the team's third.

Lamb's two penalties and a converted try from Bowden, courtesy of another fantastic offload from Mapusua, added to Newcastle's woes.

Ojo completed his hat-trick, running straight through the middle of the pitch with ease, before Joseph got a second, courtesy of an interception.

Tait got Newcastle's second try with two minutes left, but it offered little by way of consolation and did not take the gloss of a powerful London Irish performance.

Newcastle director of rugby Alan Tait:

"There aren't any real positives we can take out of a hammering, but when you are beaten by a far better side, it makes it a little easier to swallow and they were a far superior side.

"The try just before half-time was a real killer blow and there were signs of panic from us at times and we'll have to have a look at that and try and address it. But there is no miracle cure, we have to get on with it."

London Irish assistant coach Mike Catt:

"Topsy [Ojo] had a really bad time last year and it's just great to see him back with a smile on his face.

"We have a fantastic group of young players and when you look at Ojo, Armitage and Joseph, that's a fantastic trio.

"Ryan [Lamb] was clinical and composed and didn't throw any silly ones out there which he has been prone to do and [Seilala] Mapusua showed what three months' full pre-season prep can do - he was unbelievable.

"Two years ago we had the ruthlessness and killer instinct and we lost that last year but now we have got it back. Everything was spot-on today and for us to come to Newcastle and do what we did shows how much we have improved."

Newcastle: Tait; Bobo, Eves, Henderson, Amesbury; Gopperth, Young; Golding, Vickers (capt), Ryan, Levi, Swinson, Wilson, Pennycook, Hogg.

Replacements: Fielden for Bobo (51), Manning for Gopperth (66), Pilgrim for Young (55), Shiels for Golding (51), Ward for Ryan (60), Townson for Swinson (61), Welch for Pennycook (51).

Not Used: Graham.

London Irish: Armitage; Ojo, Mapusua , Bowden, Joseph; Lamb, Hodgson; Dermody (capt), Buckland, Rautenbach, Kennedy, Casey, Roche, Danaher, Stowers.

Replacements: Fisher for Hodgson (60), Paice for Buckland (48), Corbisiero for Rautenbach (48), Garvey for Roche (60), Allinson for Danaher (60).

Not Used: Lahiff, Tagicakibau, Malone.

Att: 4,993

Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU)