Gloucester squeak past Falcons

Editor

Two late penalties from Freddie Burns guided Gloucester to a 22-16 victory over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Two late penalties from Freddie Burns guided Gloucester to a 22-16 victory over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

The Falcons dominated the opening 30 minutes and took a 13-3 lead through Tom Catterick's try and the boot of Rory Clegg, with Freddie Burns responding for the Cherry and Whites.

However, Rob Cook crossed the whitewash before a Burns' penalty and Jonny May touchdown sent the visitors into the lead.

Phil Godman levelled matters but the Gloucester stand-off kicked two more three-pointers to secure the victory.

Newcastle have adapted well to life back in the Premiership, securing a 15-14 triumph at Sale Sharks in Round Two.

But it is their home form which will be the key for their survival in the top division, and Catterick's first minute try signalled their intentions.

Will Welch made the initial break before Ally Hogg sent the Falcons' winger clear. Clegg converted and then added a penalty as the hosts took a 10-0 advantage.

The fly-halves traded penalties before the visitors hit back with a score from full-back Cook as the Tyneside-based outfit went into the interval 13-8 ahead.

Although Newcastle were in the lead, it was Gloucester who were in the ascendency at the start of the second period and Burns reduced the deficit to two points after 48 minutes.

May then scampered over after good work from James Simpson-Daniel and Henry Trinder to complete the turnaround. And despite Godman briefly restoring parity with a three-pointer, Burns was on target twice from the tee late on to revive their hopes of mounting a play-off challenge.

The scorers:

For Newcastle:
Try:Catterick
Con:
Clegg
Pens: Clegg 2, Godman

For Gloucester:Tries: Cook, May
Pens: Burns 4

Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Dom Barrow, 4 Carlo del Fava, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Franck Montanella.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Alex Crockett.

Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Will James, 4 Tom Savage (capt), 3 Shaun Knight, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Dan Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Koree Britton, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Mike Tindall, 23 Charlie Sharples.

Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe, Paul Dix
Television match official: Trevor Fisher
Timekeeper: David Hudson
Assessor: Christopher White