Gloucester sent Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle spinning to defeat at a sold-out
Kingsholm as they maintained their unbeaten Zurich Premiership record.
Gloucester's fourth successive victory this season - secured by tries from
Marcel Garvey, Alex Brown and James Simpson-Daniel - also inflicted a first loss
on the Falcons.
Wilkinson kicked 12 of Newcastle's points but he gifted Gloucester their final
try when a speculative pass from just outside his 22 was collected by a grateful
Simpson-Daniel, who sprinted over unopposed.
It rounded off a thoroughly convincing Gloucester display and they will visit
west country rivals Bath next Saturday - a ground where they have yet to win in
league combat - in buoyant mood.
After four rounds of the Premiership, they are tucked in one point behind
early pace-setters Sale Sharks and a record Kingsholm crowd of 13,000 roared its
approval.
Centre Henry Paul added 13 points from the boot, and fly-half Duncan McRae
slotted a first-half penalty as Gloucester never looked back after posting two
touchdowns during a five-minute spell in the opening quarter.
Newcastle had their moments, a spectacular late solo try by wing Michael
Stephenson but they were punished for their mistakes and conceded second-best in
several areas.
The capacity Kingsholm audience guaranteed an intense, intimidating welcome
for the Falcons, whose last victory on Gloucester soil came during their 1997/98
Premiership title-winning campaign.
Newcastle boss Rob Andrew made several changes from the side that pipped
struggling Harlequins last weekend, although one of those was an enforced switch
in midfield, where Joe Shaw replaced broken leg victim Mark Mayerhofler.
Wales captain Colin Charvis featured on the bench after making three
successive league starts for his new club, while Gloucester were unchanged
following an outstanding 18-12 win at Northampton seven days ago.
Gloucester announced their intentions from the kick-off, gathering Wilkinson's
kick-off and launching a superb forward drive back to the halfway line.
It was an immediate sign of things to come and Gloucester's early territorial
control produced an eighth-minute Paul penalty.
But, while Newcastle did not look unduly alarmed by that setback, they were
rocked on their heels through a Gloucester points blitz of two tries in five
minutes.
Newcastle were their own worst enemies for the opening score. Having conceded
a penalty, they then committed another offence that referee Ashley Rowden
punished by marching them back another 10 metres.
With the Falcons disorganised, scrum-half Andy Gomarsall spotted space, kicked
into the gap and, before Newcastle could regroup, Garvey gathered and sprinted
over.
Paul added the conversion, before Gloucester struck again on 18 minutes,
capitalising on number eight Adam Balding's clean lineout catch and driving the
Falcons forwards backwards before Brown touched down.
Newcastle's problems were compounded by an injury to Shaw three minutes later.
He was helped from the field with an ankle problem, giving youngster Mathew Tait
a chance on the Premiership stage.
Wilkinson kicked three penalties during the second quarter, one from 50
metres, but further penalties from Paul and McRae ensured a comfortable interval
lead for the home side.
Andrew reacted to his team's first-half troubles by making a triple
substitution as Charvis, prop James Isaacson and hooker Andy Long all entered
the fray.
The Falcons made a lively start to the second period, with Charvis,
especially, providing fresh impetus, and Gloucester found themselves under
sustained pressure.
The game's bruising nature was emphasised when Gomarsall and his Gloucester
colleague Adam Balding required treatment and a dazed Balding left the action to
be replaced by Adam Eustace.
Newcastle succeeded in taking some of the momentum out of Gloucester's play
but a raking Gomarsall touchfinder took the home side back into Newcastle's 22
where Wilkinson sliced an attempted clearance under pressure from Jake Boer.
The Falcons were a much tighter unit than in the first-half and Gloucester,
who also lost hooker Olivier Azam through injury, had a game on their hands.
Wilkinson's fourth successful penalty, on 58 minutes, underlined the strength
of a growing Newcastle revival.
Gloucester recovered their composure during the final quarter with their
forwards rekindling the earlier mood by starting to turn the screw up-front.
Still though, the home side were riddled by uncharacteristic errors which
frustrated efforts to make the game safe but a Paul penalty seven minutes from
time opened up a 24-12 advantage.
And Gloucester secured the victory just two minutes later when Simpson-Daniel
prospered from Wilkinson's generosity and galloped over.
Newcastle had the final say with Stephenson's weaving 60-metre effort but it
was far too little, too late.
Teams
Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel,
McRae, Gomarsall, Wood, Azam, Sigley, Buxton, Brown, Boer,
Hazell, Balding.
Replacements: Emms for Wood (60), Fortey for Azam (56),
Eustace for Balding (48).
Not Used: Narraway, Page, Amor, Bailey.
Tries: Garvey, Brown, Simpson-Daniel.
Cons: Paul 2.
Pens: Paul 3, McRae.
Newcastle: Burke, May, Noon, Shaw, Stephenson, J. Wilkinson,
Grindal, Peel, Thompson, Hurter, Gross, Grimes, McCarthy,
Sititi, Dowson.
Replacements: Tait for Shaw (23), Charlton for Grindal (54),
Isaacson for Peel (40), Long for Thompson (40),
Hamilton for Gross (74), Charvis for McCarthy (40).
Not Used: Walder.
Tries: Stephenson.
Pens: J. Wilkinson 4.
Att: 13,000
Ref: Ashley Rowden (Berkshire).
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