Sale, who have failed to record a Premiership victory in all their previous
visits to Kingston Park, failed again after in a match influenced by the wind.
Newcastle had the benefit of a powerful wind behind them and Jonny Wilkinson
had no hesitation in peppering the corner flag, a tactic which was to lead to
all three first half tries.
Before that, however, and after Wilkinson had opened the scoring with a
penalty, Sale grabbed the lead and looked to have transformed the game in the
space of two minutes.
When Hugh Vyvyan was penalised for playing the ball on the ground Nick Walshe
put over the penalty to level the scores.
Directly from the restart Pete Anglesea gathered in and made progress before
slipping the ball to Graeme Bond. Steve Hanley stormed clear from 60 metres for
a try with neither Michael Stephenson or not full-back Mark Wilkinson getting in
a tackle.
Six minutes later and Newcastle were back on level terms. From a Wilkinson
penalty to the corner, the ball was gathered in and Jon Dunbar was driven over
with Wilkinson converting.
From the next line-out following a Wilkinson penalty, a swift move saw Jamie
Noon left clear to run in a simple try.
There was a 12-minute gap to the next Wilkinson penalty and this time it was
prop forward Ian Peel who was driven over.
Wilkinson landed both conversions and then ended the half with a monster
63-metre penalty attempt that dropped only inches short, and the Falcons led
24-10 at the break.
Newcastle brought on Phil Godman at fly-half to pick up some experience in
advance of Wilkinson's international duty, and the change was seamless.
Walshe pulled back three points for Sale with a penalty but Newcastle defended
well and went on to score a fourth and bonus point-winning try.
The build-up inevitably came from a Wilkinson penalty to touch. Three times
the Falcons rolled it to the line and three times Sale were penalised until Phil
Davies was yellow carded.
Newcastle took the scrum, Hall Charlton nipped in to score and Wilkinson put
the seal on the victory with his fourth conversion.
Teams:
Newcastle: M. Wilkinson, Botham, Noon, May,
Stephenson,
J. Wilkinson, Charlton, Peel, Brotherstone, Hurter, Hamilton,
Grimes, Dunbar, Arnold, Vyvyan.
Not Used: Grindal, Godman, Isaacson, Thompson, Springgay,
Dowson, Otuvaka.
Tries: Dunbar, Noon, Peel, Charlton.
Cons: J. Wilkinson 4.
Pens: J. Wilkinson.
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Deane,
Bond, Hanley, Walshe, Redpath,
Thorp, Titterrell, Stewart, Schofield, Day, Davies, Pinkerton,
Anglesea.
Not Used: Marais, Yates, Turner, Perelini, Lund, Harris, Going.
Sale:
Tries: Hanley, Walshe.
Cons: Walshe 2.
Pens: Walshe 2.
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