Albi (6) 14
Tries: Correa Pens: B. Stewart (3)
Newcastle (6) 16
Tries: Afu Cons: Gopperth Pens: Gopperth (3)

Gopperth scored three penalties and a conversion for Newcastle

Newcastle are one win away from the last eight of the Challenge Cup after a narrow win over French side Albi.

Penalties from Jimmy Gopperth and Albi's Blair Stewart saw the teams go in level at 6-6 at half-time.

A try by Yogane Correa after the break handed Albi the lead before Stewart cancelled out Gopperth's third penalty.

However, with seven minutes to go Gopperth completed the comeback by converting Josh Afu's try to secure victory over their pool 5 rivals.

A win over Italian side Petrarca at Kingston Park next weekend will guarantee Newcastle's place in the last eight of the Challenge Cup for the fifth year in a row.

Albi: Palis, Borges, Radidi, Hecker, Lakafia, B. Stewart, Poujol, Frize, Ponnau, Prime, Vervoort, Tisseau, Farani, Baluc-Rittener, Clement.
Replacements: J. Stewart for B. Stewart (74), Delpuech for Frize (34), Saby for Ponnau (74), Van der Westhuyzen for Vervoort (60), Correa for Baluc-Rittener (11), Maynadier for Clement (35).
Not Used: Sore, Denetre.

Sin Bin: Radidi (30).

Newcastle: Tait, Williams, Bobo, Tu'ipulotu, Biggs, Gopperth, Young, Ovens, Vickers, Thompson, Swinson, Sorenson, Afu, B. Wilson, Levi.
Replacements: Vickerman for Bobo (57), Miller for Tu'ipulotu (69), Ward for Ovens (19), Hayman for Thompson (40), Hudson for Swinson (55), Balding for Levi (55).
Not Used: Walker, Pilgrim.

Sin Bin: B. Wilson (39).

Att: 4,000

Ref: John Lacey (Ireland).

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