Newcastle 13-23 Exeter

Newcastle (6) 13
Tries: Hudson Cons: Gopperth Pens: Gopperth 2

Exeter (6) 20
Tries: Jess Pens: Steenson 5

Stand-off Gareth Steenson began his career with Cornish Pirates

Gareth Steenson kicked five penalties as Exeter inflicted a 10th defeat of the season on struggling Newcastle.

Newcastle led through Jimmy Gopperth's penalty but the momentum swung Exeter's way with Steenson's first two kicks.

Gopperth's second penalty levelled for a 6-6 half-time scoreline, Steenson's kick nudged Exeter ahead, before James Hudson's try saw Newcastle lead again.

Matt Jess's score put Exeter in front, while Steenson secured victory with three penalties in the last 14 minutes.

The result plunges Newcastle deeper into relegation trouble, while Exeter now have 31 points from 14 matches.

Exeter were penalised when they dropped the scrum and then cost themselves 10 metres for arguing with the referee, Gopperth kicking the resulting penalty.

Within six minutes Steenson had put the visitors into a 6-3 lead with two successful kicks, before Gopperth pulled Newcastle level with his second kick of the night.

Steenson's 55th-minute penalty edged Exeter back in front at 9-6 and this seemed to inspire Newcastle as they scored the first try of the match.

A patient drive set up Hudson to score and Gopperth kicked the conversion.

Exeter responded immediately as Jess went over to give his side a one-point lead after Tom Johnson had charged down an attempted clearance.

But Steenson made sure of victory to deny Newcastle a bonus point with three successful kicks.

Newcastle head coach Alan Tait:
"We kicked badly and gave away daft penalties, some of them from senior and experienced players who should know better.

"This is where I'm lost with this group of players. We give them everything, we look after them and we seem to be getting nothing back.

"I keep going to the chairman to get them what they want and there just doesn't seem to be anything coming back in return.

"I'm not saying it's all their fault. We'll have to have a look at our own coaching, but I don't think it's down to that. It's mainly down to the players and the decisions they are making on the field.

"This is the lowest I've ever been in all the time I have been here. I want to see some sort of comeback from everyone at the club this coming week and the ball will be put very firmly in their court."

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter:
"We didn't play too well in the first half but we stayed in touch at 6-6 and the try we scored after theirs was crucial.

"We have a great kick and chase game. We showed that when we charged down the kick and the try wiped theirs away.

"We controlled the game form then on. If you keep working for 80 minutes you're always in with a chance. We have been playing well for some time now. We're not really concerned about the number of points we have in the league."

Newcastle: Golding, Thompson, Murray, Hudson, van der Heijden, Swinson, Welch, Hogg, Young, Gopperth, Bobo, Tu'ipulotu, Eves, Fielden, A Tait.

Replacements: Vickers for Thompson (41), Brookes for Murray (69), M. Wilson for Welch (64), Charlton for Young (69), Manning for Gopperth (64), Fitzpatrick for Tu'ipulotu (75).N
ot Used: Shiels, Townson.

Exeter: Sturgess, Clark, Budgen, Hayes, Hanks, Johnson, Scaysbrook, Baxter, Thomas, Steenson, Sestaret, Naqelevuki, Shoemark, Jess, Arscott.

Replacements: Elosu for Budgen (75), Slade for Hanks (26).
Not Used: Whitehead, Moon, Phillips, Poluleuligaga, Davis, Dollman.

Att: 5,729

Ref: Sean Davey (RFU).