Three tries in the second half and a 17 point haul from Newcastle skipper Jonny Wilkinson earned the home side victory in a tight encounter at Kingston Park on Sunday afternoon.

The opening period saw a converted try and penalty apiece as the sides went into the break tied at 10-10.

But two tries from Stuart Grimes, a last-gasp effort from Jamie Noon plus another commanding kicking performance from Wilkinson ended Bristol's hopes.

Falcons opened the scoring after only four minutes when a kick from the base of the scrum from Charlton Hall put right wing David Rees under pressure and when he failed to gather, Wilkinson collected, slipped the ball to Tom May who sprinted 40 metres to touch down under the posts. Wilkinson added the conversion to make it 7-0.

Bristol replied with a well-worked try of their own on 14 minutes through full-back Matt Carrington.

The Shoguns were making inroads into the Falcons defence and after some solid work by the pack, Agustin Pichot spun the ball out to Drahm who slipped the ball to Shoguns captain Jason Little.

He took on his man but got the ball away to Carrington who beat the covering Falcons defence to touchdown. Draham added the conversion to level the scores.

Wilkinson and Drahm then traded penalties to make it 10-10 just before the half-hour.

Bristol - without first choice props Julian White and Paul Johnstone - then conceded a penalty for wheeling the scrum but Wilkinson's effort fell just short of the uprights.

And six minutes later Drahm failed to add a penalty of his own when his effort from the half-way line went well wide.

Falcons came out firing after the break and grabbed their second try five minutes after the restart.

Bristol turned over the ball just inside the Falcons half and centre Noon broke clear and found flanker Epi Taione. He slipped the ball to Scotland lock Stuart Grimes, who beat off a frantic effort by the Bristol defence to touch down under the posts.

Wilkinson converted but Newcastle's lead was immediately reduced by a Drahm penalty before Grimes grabbed his second try when Bristol captain Jason Little lost the ball to Newcastle's George Graham in the tackle.

Graham broke down the centre, slipped the ball to Grimes who raced home. Wilkinson added the extra points but a converted Little try brought the deficit back to seven points.

Wilkinson landed another penalty six minutes from time before Adam Vander yellow carded.

The Falcons made the most of the advantage as Noon sealed the victory with a solo effort down the right wing which Wilkinson successfully converted.