A pre-match fireworks display at Kingsholm did the trick for Gloucester,
inspiring them to an explosive start.
In the first five minutes they went 10-0 ahead and never looked back as they
proceeded to record the double over the Falcons.
As so often this season they faded in the second half and were actually
outscored in that period by their visitors.
But their first half fire crackers had done all the damage and they were able
to end a bleak run of defeats with an encouraging win.
Even without the rested Ian Jones, Gloucester did well in the lines-out and
indeed in all the set-pieces, provided a solid foundation for some brisk and
penetrating attacks.
Winger Tom Beim looked dangerous all afternoon but never more so than in the
second minute when he sped over for a try which Simon Mannix converted.
A long-range penalty by Mannix in the fifth minute was followed by a second
try for Gloucester as Australian centre Jason Little went over.
Gloucester won a scrum, Mannix whistled the ball out to the Australian and he
somehow got over despite being tackled on both sides.
Mannix again added the conversion and it was effectively all over for
Newcastle.
England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson had three penalty chances in the half but
landed only one and the Falcons found themselves 20-3 behind at the interval.
Wilkinson succeeded with a second penalty early in the second half before a
big free-for-all saw Gloucester skipper Kingsley Jones and Falcons prop Marius
Hurter sin-binned.
A try by lock Simon Cornwell clinched Gloucester's win in the 68th minute even
though Mannix failed with the conversion.
In injury time, Wilkinson redeemed his earlier failures and he went through
for a consolation try which he also converted.
Zurich man of the match: Simon Mannix
Teams:
Gloucester: Catling, Ewens, Fanolua, Little, Beim, Mannix,
Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Vickery, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, K. Jones, Paramore.
Not Used: Sanders, Hayward, Djoudi, Eustace, Deacon, Ojomoh, Yates.
Sin Bin: K. Jones (62).
Tries: Beim, Little, Cornwell.
Cons: Mannix 2.
Pens: Mannix 3.
Newcastle: Walder, Stephenson, Botham, Tuigamala, Cook,
Wilkinson, Armstrong, Peel, Nesdale, Hurter, Grimes, Weir,
Arnold, Cartmell, Jenner.
Replacements: Taione for Botham (28).
Not Used: Howe, Ward, Graham, Rule, Beattie, Charlton.
Sin Bin: Hurter (62).
Tries: Wilkinson.
Cons: Wilkinson.
Pens: Wilkinson 2.
Att: 7,455
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).
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