Newcastle Falcons were brought back down to earth as an Andy Goode-inspired Brive swept to victory in the European Challenge Cup.

Goode kicked 21 points and created two of his team's three tries, including the first inside a minute, as the French club ruled in wet conditions at Stade Municipal.

It was a rude awakening for Newcastle who beat Spanish minnows El Salvador 63-0 last week and though tries from Rory Clegg and Tim Visser cut the deficit to 19-15 after an hour, it was Brive who powered home.

Brive, Heineken Cup winners in 1997, rang the changes after losing their opening European game at Overmach Parma last week and their foreign legion helped open a 13-5 lead at the break.

South African Ronnie Cooke raced onto Goode's clever kick to touch down near the posts inside a minute. Goode converted and added a penalty before opposite number Clegg responded, stepping past one defender to grab the Falcons' first try.

But the French showed their strength when forwards Johan van Zyl and Jean-Baptiste Pejoine stepped off the bench and stormed over either side of a yellow card for Newcastle's John Rudd.

The wing left former England hooker Steve Thompson requiring treatment to a facial injury after an off the ball clash eight minutes from time.

Pejoine touched down after the Brive scrum had the Newcastle pack in reverse to seal the victory. Ollie Phillips' last-gasp try for the visitors was mere consolation on the scoreboard.