Sale's inability to win at Kingston Park was never more amply demonstrated in a scrappy Zurich Premiership game which the Falcons hung on to win in the face of some tremendous second half pressure.

Newcastle looked a much tighter unit in the first half then they did against Saracens last week when they were 25-20 at home.

David Walder was just short from halfway line with a penalty before Warren Britz was held just short of the line as the Falcons started strongest.

They were the first to put points on the board, pressing their advantage after Sale had the put in at a scrum near their line.

Newcastle destroyed the visiting pack and won a penalty which Walder kicked after 13 minutes.

Sale then levelled the scores when Mark Andrews was dragged down at a line-out and the visitors piled over the ball.

It looked a harsh decision when the Newcastle skipper was penalised for not releasing but Jos Baxendell converted the penalty.

There was plenty of action but not much substance with both sides unable to hang on to possession until a sustained attack with Tom May, Jamie Noon, Ben Gollings, Hugh Vyvyan and Mark Andrews took the ball right up to the Sale line.

James Hoyles went straight over the ball and was sinbinned before Gollings kicked the penalty.

Falcons skipper Andrews failed to appear for the second half and Walder limped off after only three minutes as the home side conceded a simple try to Vaughan Going in the corner before Gollings made it 9-8 with his second penalty.

There was little constructive play from either side with Newcastle bogged down in midfield before Sale stepped offside and Gollings hit the post with a 45-metre penalty.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, their resulting line-out was a shambles as they lost their fourth throw in a row.

Newcastle had to withstand some real pressure from Sale and they also lost Epi Taione, who was stretchered off in the 71st minute with an injury to his right leg.

Sale spurned a kick at goal in the 74th minute with Baxendell opting to take it quickly.

Steve Hanley knocked on 10 metres out but Newcastle were then penalised for wheeling the scrum in the 78th minute and Baxendell missed the 40-metre kick to give the home side a let-off as they hung on for a scrappy win.