Newcastle Falcons snap 25-match Premiership losing streak as England snub shines while Exeter Chiefs slump to fifth straight loss
Newcastle have ended a 25 game losing streak in the Premiership.
Hooker Jamie Blamire scored two tries as Newcastle Falcons ended a 25-match losing streak in the Premiership defeating Exeter Chiefs 24-18 at Kingston Park.
It’s a first win in the Premiership in over 18 months for the Falcons having last tasted victory on 24 March 2023, while Exeter Chiefs have now lost their opening five games of the 2024/25 season.
England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored Exeter’s opening try of the game with Josh Hodge adding the extras and two penalties before crossing for a late try but that was not enough to knock over a passionate Newcastle effort.
Philip van der Walt scored the Falcons‘ opening try of the game before hooker Blamire grabbed a brace in the week that he was omitted from Steve Borthwick’s England squad for the Autumn Nations Series with Ethan Grayson adding nine points, including a drop goal.
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Exeter took the lead just four minutes into the match after a quick move from the lineout saw them comfortably switch the ball across to the right flank, where Immanuel Feyi-Waboso dived over the line to score. Hodge was unable to convert.
Newcastle looked to threaten deep inside Exeter territory and, after a flurry of lineouts, they got their first try of the evening when Van der Walt managed to break through the Chiefs’ defence and reach over the line to ground the ball. Grayson added the conversion.
Full-back Hodge restored the Chiefs’ lead with two penalties in quick succession, but the Falcons piled on the pressure and did well to recover the ball from an overthrown lineout, although the resulting move saw Sam Stuart’s try disallowed.
However, Blamire scored their second try of the night when the hooker tapped a quick penalty before storming over the line and Grayson converted.
Exeter continued to be frustrated as they struggled to build moves and were then handed a blow when Richard Capstick was sent to the sin bin just before the break.
A scrappy start to the second half saw Newcastle kick their way into Exeter territory and begin to threaten with some promising breaks.
They got their reward, scoring from a lineout, with the Falcons breaking away into a quick driving maul and Blamire edging over the line, with Grayson adding the extras.
Hodge tried to put some points back on the board for Exeter, but his long-range kick flew wide of the posts.
Newcastle passed the ball well across the pitch and provided a huge test of the Chiefs’ defence before Grayson kicked a drop goal to extend their lead further.
Exeter pushed for a late comeback in the final stages and Hodge crossed in the left corner before converting his own try with two minutes to go.
However, the Falcons were able to see the game out and celebrate a win at long last.
Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Ethan Grayson, 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Callum Chick (c), 7 Tom Gordon, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 John Hawkins, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 Richard Palframan, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Luan de Bruin, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Adam Scott, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Alex Hearle, 23 Cameron Hutchison
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Olly Woodburn, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Sam Maunder, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Richard Capstick, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Ben Hammersley