Newcastle edge Sale to move third

Newcastle claimed a thrilling 35-30 victory over Sale Sharks at Kingston Park on Friday in a win that lifts them up to third position.

Their maximum saw Calum Green, Gary Graham, Simon Hammersley, Scott Lawson and Rob Vickers cross, with Joel Hodgson kicking nine points.

In reply Sale's try scorers were Ben Curry and Marland Yarde (2) as they stay in sixth position in a blow to their knockout aspirations.

It was a thrilling game in the north-east as Sale were looking to follow up their impressive win over Wasps of last Friday. However, they once again were slow out of the blocks as Newcastle dominated the opening half-an-hour, racing into a 25-0 advantage thanks to four tries.

The Falcons edged in front on six minutes when a ruck offence from Sale allowed Hodgson to make it 3-0. And three minutes later, a carry from Sinoti Sinoti helped set up lock Green on the left wing, who barged over the whitewash. Hodgson was unsuccessful with the conversion.

Newcastle were purring and when the impressive Graham went over from close range and then Hammersley fended off Paolo Odogwu for his own crossing, the Falcons soared into a 20-0 lead. That became 25-0 when Lawson also scored as Sale desperately needed to find some form or risk being on the receiving end of a hiding.

The visitors fortunately discovered that form and scores from Curry and Yarde in the 32nd and 39th minute gave them hope at 25-14 adrift.

Sale looked full of confidence after the break and phases led to a ruck offence, with AJ MacGinty landing three points to reduce the gap.

MacGinty would strike again on 54 minutes to make it 25-20 before Yarde finished off a great kick return to move Sale 27-25 in front.

Coming into the final 10 minutes the kickers traded a penalty apiece as first Hodgson and then MacGinty took their respective side ahead.

But with two minutes remaining the Falcons would secure victory as replacement Vickers barged over from close range to seal a dramatic win.

The scorers:

For Newcastle:
Tries: Green, Graham, Hammersley, Lawson, Vickers
Cons: Hodgson 2
Pens: Hodson 2
Yellow Card: Welch

For Sale:
Tries: B Curry, Yarde 2
Cons: MacGinty 3
Pens: MacGinty 3

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Gary Graham, 6 Will Welch (c), 5 Will Witty, 4 Calum Green, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Sam Lockwood
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Evan Olmstead, 20 Ryan Burrows, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Maxime Mermoz, 23 Alex Tait

Sale: 15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Sam James, 12 Luke James, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: Marc Jones, 17 Alexandru Tarus, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Tom Curry, 22 Will Cliff, 23 Cameron Redpath

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, John Meredith
TMO: Trevor Fisher