Newcastle improved their chances of a top four Premiership finish courtesy of
a blistering second-half performance at Kingston Park on Sunday afternoon.
They touched down for five tries after the break as the shell-shocked Sharks
found themselves outgunned both up-front and behind the scrum.
But it was a different story in the first half when the Mancunians were
acquitting themselves well in what looked to be a finely-balanced game and they
only trailed 15-7 at the interval.
But the Falcons, with two-try winger Michael Stephenson in fine form, then
stepped up a gear as they carved open the visitors' defence at will.
Jonny Wilkinson opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty after Sale had
infringed while trying to stop a surging run from Falcons scrum-half Gary
Armstrong.
Newcastle put several phases of possession together moments later but sloppy
handling denied them any benefit from their attacking ambitions.
The home side were reduced to 14 men after winger Epi Taione was sent to the
sin-bin for stamping on Sharks centre Jos Baxendell but Sale flanker Andy Morris
was shown a yellow card shortly after to even the odds.
Stephenson edged his side further ahead in the 19th minute with a try after
some some slick threequarter handling sent him crashing through the challenges
of Baxendell and Matt Moore.
Wilkinson missed the conversion but Newcastle skipper Doddie Weir then charged
over the line for a try which the England fly-half did improve.
Sale went on an offensive of their own in the 33rd minute and some superb link
play between forwards and backs was brought to an end when visiting number eight
Apollo Perelini conceded a penalty for not releasing the ball.
But a similar move just seconds later swept them deep into the Falcons' half
and they were not denied a second time as second row Guy Manson-Bishop bundled
over for a try improved by Charlie Hodgson.
Hodgson added a penalty shortly after the break before Sale skipper Bryan
Redpath was sin-binned for a professional foul.
England A international Dave Walder handed the initiative back to the Falcons
in the 52nd minute with a try in the corner, but Wilkinson could not add the two
points.
Centre Tom May, Stephenson and second row Stuart Grimes then touched down for
five-pointers as the home side eased into the driving seat. The boot of
Wilkinson added all three conversions.
Sale were being run ragged and Armstrong's converted try piled further misery
onto the visitors.
Duncan Bell and Moore barged over the Falcons' line late in the game and
Hodgson kicked the four points but it was too little, too late in an afternoon
the Sharks will want to forget.
Man of the Match: Michael Stephenson
Newcastle:
Tries: Stephenson 2, Weir, Walder, May, Grimes,
Armstrong.
Cons: Wilkinson 5.
Pens: Wilkinson.
Team: Walder, Stephenson, Noon, May,
Taione, Wilkinson,
Armstrong, Peel, Howe, Hurter, Grimes, Weir, Vyvyan, Mower,
Jenner.
Replacements: Charlton for Armstrong (70),
Graham for Peel (41), Nesdale for Howe (51),
Ward for Hurter (70), Rule for Grimes (70),
Cartmell for Mower (70).
Not Used: MacLure.
Sin Bin: Taione (12).
Sale:
Tries: Manson-Bishop, Bell, Moore.
Cons: Hodgson, Little 2.
Pens: Hodgson.
Team: Robinson, Moore, Baxendell, Harris, Going,
Hodgson,
Redpath, Bell, Jackman, Thiel, Manson-Bishop, Lines, Appleyard,
Morris, Perelini.
Replacements: Deane for Harris (25), Little for Hodgson (73),
Black for Bell (75), Baldwin for Manson-Bishop (60),
Wilks for Appleyard (34).
Not Used: Hatley, Titterrell.
Sin Bin: Morris (15), Redpath (47).
Att: 3,318
Ref: Ed Morrison (RFU).
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