Newcastle won a pulsating Powergen Cup final at Twickenham after substitute flanker Phil Dowson scored the winning try to prolong Sale's 143-year wait for a major English trophy.

Guildford-born Dowson struck four minutes from time, ending an enthralling encounter that produced the highest-ever points aggregate for an English cup final.

The lead changed hands six times, but Newcastle crucially edged the try-count 4-3.

Earlier touchdowns from full-back Joe Shaw, flanker Warren Britz and skipper Hugh Vyvyan looked as though they would not be enough, despite fly-half Dave Walder weighing in with 17 points.

Sale matched their opponents blow for blow - wings Mark Cueto and Steve Hanley, together with centre Chris Mayor touching down - while fly-half Charlie Hodgson booted 18 points on his first Twickenham appearance since suffering a serious knee injury during last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Unfortunately for Hodgson though, his attempted defensive clearance was charged down and that led directly to Dowson's score.

Newcastle's victory secured qualification for the Heineken Cup next season, while skipper Vyvyan delivered a perfect parting gift before joining Saracens next season.

Twickenham's Powergen finals day had got off to an eventful start when the stadium was evacuated for 90 minutes mid-morning.

A burger van fire behind the South Stand - and concerns about nearby gas cylinders - meant that the 10am Powergen Junior Vase final kick-off was delayed by an hour.

Fans arriving early found themselves shut out of the ground as fire brigade officials and the police conducted final checks, but there were no long-term problems and the showpiece cup final began on time.

Newcastle made a couple of late changes, calling up scrum-half James Grindal and prop Micky Ward, and there was a vibrant atmosphere surrounding English rugby's first all-northern final since Gosforth beat Waterloo in 1977.

Newcastle were led out by the infant son of tragic Falcons back-row forward Soa Otuvaka, who passed away last month, aged just 25, following his battle with a brain tumour.

And the Falcons made an impressive start in front of a 48,500 crowd, helped by Sharks full-back Jason Robinson throwing a pass into no-man's land, and wing Michael Stephenson almost powered over.

Sale could not escape from their 22, and Newcastle made them pay on seven minutes when South African flanker Britz rounded off a crisp move to claim an impressive opening try that Walder converted.

Hodgson landed a short-range penalty three minutes later from the Sharks' first threatening position, and pre-match forecasts of an open, entertaining final had immediately reached fruition.

Sale added further to the mix after 15 minutes, prising open Newcastle's defence through a storming break by hooker Andy Titterrell. Although he was tackled short, the Sharks quickly moved possession wide and Hanley touched down.

Hodgson's angled conversion gave the Sharks a 10-7 lead approaching the end of a superb opening quarter, but Walder tied things up with his opening penalty after an earlier short-range miss.

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew made a front-row substitution 10 minutes before the break, replacing prop Ian Peel with South African Marius Hurter, yet Sale went back in front through Hodgson's second penalty.

It was an eventful encounter in bright Twickenham sunshine, and although Sale approached half-time in front, they were still to unleash Robinson, their most potent attacking weapon.

Leading 13-10 at the break, Sale needed to stamp further stamp their authority, but Newcastle regained the lead within three minutes.

Centre Jamie Noon was tackled just short of the line following a powerful break, absorbing sufficient defensive numbers, and after the ball went wide, Falcons skipper Vyvyan touched down.

Walder landed a fiendishly-difficult conversion into a gusting wind, edging Newcastle 17-13 ahead, but Sale replied in thrilling fashion when Cueto showcased his silky running skills.

Cueto made a mess of Newcastle's defence from 40 metres out, weaving his way inside and out of would-be tacklers, and the score - increased by Hodgson's conversion - put Sale 20-17 ahead.

Hodgson booted a 48-metre penalty just three minutes later, offering Sale the first hint of breathing space in what had become an enthralling contest.

Typically though, the Falcons' response was wonderfully effective. They first gained territory, then Walder rifled out a mis-pass in classic training ground fashion, and Shaw sprinted through a huge gap, complete with celebratory dive.

Walder's conversion made it 24-23 to Newcastle as the lead changed hands for a fourth time, setting up an intriguing closing quarter.

But in keeping with the game's nature, Newcastle could not consolidate their advantage, and it was wiped out when Mayor scorched through a huge gap for Sale's third try, converted by Hodgson.

Walder reduced the arrears with a 69th-minute penalty, then found his range again to level the scores at 30-30 before Hodgson inched Sale back in front.

Dowson though, came up trumps, and Newcastle could celebrate their second cup final triumph in four years following a breathtaking, gripping finale.

Teams:

Newcastle: J. Shaw, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, Walder, Grindal, Peel, Makin, Ward, Archer, Grimes, Dunbar, Britz, Vyvyan.

Replacements: Lilley for J. Shaw (59), Charlton for Grindal (47), Hurter for Peel (31), Thompson for Makin (56), Hamilton for Archer (64), Dowson for Britz (64).

Tries: Britz, Vyvyan, J. Shaw, Dowson.

Cons: Walder 4. Pens: Walder 3.

Not Used: Gollings.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Mayor, Hanley, Hodgson, Walshe, Sheridan, Titterell, Stewart, Fullarton, White, Anglesea, Sanderson, C. Jones.

Replacements: Cairns for Titterell (63), Turner for Stewart (63), Perrett for Anglesea (58).

Tries: Hanley, Cueto, Mayor. Cons: Hodgson 3.

Pens: Hodgson 4.

Not Used: Schofield, Going, Hercus, Wigglesworth.

Att: 38,590

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).