Newcastle and London Irish took full advantage of the glorious conditions at Kingston Park by producing an entertaining match full of open, running rugby.

Although the Falcons emerged convincing winners, London Irish made a handsome contribution to the game as a spectacle and staged a thrilling second-half comeback that had appeared unlikely before the interval.

It was amazing they scored only three tries given some of their attacking play, but Newcastle enjoyed greater punch up front and were more ruthless in their finishing.

Jonny Wilkinson finished with a 17-point haul courtesy of a flawless kicking display and a try, while winger Michael Stephenson turned in a robust performance which saw him touch down for a fine score.

The visitors made a blistering start as they surged forward from the first whistle.

The ball was quickly recycled midway in the Falcons' half before being shipped out to hooker Richard Kirke, who charged over for a try just 31 seconds into the match.

But Newcastle replied with a Wilkinson touchdown three minutes later - which he converted - before Stephenson won a chase for the line after a searing break from Tom May.

Wilkinson slotted over the two points and then converted a try from second row Hugh Vyvyan. But the boot of outside-half Barry Everitt kept London Irish in touch with three penalties.

England A international Dave Walder rounded off a period of sustained pressure from the home side with a five-pointer in the left corner which Wilkinson improved.

The England fly-half was in inspired form, and his kicking skills were required again in the 36th minute after hooker Ross Nesdale touched down - and he made no mistake with the conversion to give his side a 35-17 half-time lead.

Scrum-half Gary Armstrong dived over for a try six minutes after the break following a rolling maul from the Newcastle pack before Everitt slotted a penalty.

But Irish began to claw their way back into the game and found themselves camped in the Falcons' territory, eventually rewarded in the 58th minute through an Ofisa Tonu'u five-pointer.

A storming charge up the pitch then saw Newcastle substitute Epi Taione make some 30 metres before he was hauled down.

Tonu'u, whose appearance added an extra dimension to the Londoners' game, came up with the ball which he quickly fed wide to Paul Sackey who did not have the legs to outstrip the Falcons' cover defence.

But he was more successful shortly afterwards, scoring a try which Everitt improved as London Irish hauled themselves to within just 10 points.

The visitors' outside-half added a penalty five minutes into injury-time - but there was to be no heroic late victory as Newcastle anxiously held on to their lead until the final whistle.

Man of the match: Ofisa Tonu'u