A try from Newcastle substitute Hall Charlton six minutes into injury time
lifted the Falcons off the foot of the Zurich Premiership as Leeds crashed to
only their second home defeat of the season.
Newcastle trailed for virtually the entire match until a 78th-minute penalty
from England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson nudged his side ahead for the first time.
But Tykes centre Braan van Straaten slotted what appeared to be the winning
points six minutes later, and with just seconds to go the Falcons looked dead
and buried.
Charlton popped up on the left though to clinch the winning score, which was
no more than his side deserved after an ambitious performance which now leaves
Bath rooted to the bottom.
Former Springbok van Straaten looked to have clinched the match for Leeds with
a flawless kicking display - his side never looked like scoring a try - and it
took just 42 seconds for him to nudge his side ahead with a long-range penalty.
Leeds continued to pressurise with their forwards driving the Falcons' pack
backwards at a rate of knots, eventually securing another penalty which van
Straaten stroked over.
Newcastle struck back with a series of raids which swept them deep into home
territory only for winger Michael Stephenson to concede a penalty when trying to
burst through the Tykes' line.
But they continued to play in the Leeds half, using Tongan flanker Epi Taione
as a battering ram up the centre of the pitch to secure a good field position.
The Falcons were awarded a penalty by referee Chris White which Wilkinson
pushed wide and Stephenson should have done better with his drop-goal attempt.
Newcastle were dominating now, using a stream of possession to hammer away at
the Tykes' defence but their sloppy handling let Leeds off the hook on more than
one occasion.
Taione, who shone against Harlequins last week, was being used in a full-back
position during open play to run the ball back at Leeds, a task his powerful
frame is well suited to.
One charge down the wing caused panic in the home ranks but just as he had
drawn his man and slipped a pass to the unmarked Stephenson, the touch judge
ruled he stepped out of play.
The Tykes won the ball at the ensuing lineout before working their way
downfield, winning a penalty which van Straaten landed a minute into first-half
injury time.
Newcastle piled forward after the break to send Leeds back peddling
frantically but they squandered a clear overlap on the left, although the
subsequent sin-binning of England prospect Tom Palmer meant they retained the
initiative.
The Tykes' pack was starting to buckle from Newcastle's relentless pressure
and in the 52nd minute the visitors notched their first points of the evening.
A surging forward drive laid the foundation as substitute scrum-half Charlton
scooped up the ball and fed Wilkinson who slipped over in the corner, with the
England star booting the conversion.
Wilkinson and van Straaten then exchanged penalties before Charlton ran in
their winning try deep into injury time.
Teams:
Leeds: Scarborough, Hall, Davies, van Straaten, Albanese, Ross,
Dickens, Shelley, Holt, Kerr, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather, Hyde,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Wheatley, Rawlinson, Campbell, Popham, Benton,
Harder, Stanley.
Pens: van Straaten 4.
Newcastle: Shaw, Botham, Noon, May, Stephenson, J. Wilkinson,
Grindal, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Andrews, Grimes, Taione, Mower,
Vyvyan.
Replacements: Charlton, M. Wilkinson, Godman, Ward, Hamilton,
Thompson, Dunbar.
Tries: J. Wilkinson, Charlton.
Cons: J. Wilkinson 2.
Pens: J. Wilkinson.
Att: 7,027
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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