Falcons still fighting

Ryan Shortland: Scored an interception try for relegation-threatened Newcastle

Newcastle's relegation fight received a boost on Saturday when Ryan Shortland's interception try helped them to a 19-10 Aviva Premiership victory over London Irish at Kingston Park.

The Falcons came back from 10-6 down at half-time to win with 14 men after the sending-off of lock Adriaan Fondse in the 60th minute.

With Wasps losing to Exeter, the gap between Newcastle and the London side at the bottom of the table is down to six points.

However, the Falcons now face two tough matches in succession with a trip to Leicester and home clash with Harlequins.

Fondse was sent off for throwing a punch at Delon Armitage, who was subjected to a storm of booing from the crowd who thought he made the most of the incident.

The England full-back was lucky to escape punishment for an apparent forearm smash on Newcastle centre James Fitzpatrick late in the game and could yet be cited for the incident.

Errors

Falcons prop Jon Golding and London Irish number eight Richard Thorpe were also yellow-carded for fighting in the dying minutes of what had become an ill-tempered game.

It was also error-strewn, with both sides struggling to handle a bitingly cold strong wind, although Jimmy Gopperth nonetheless managed three penalties, a conversion and a drop goal - his one miss coming when he hit the post from 45 metres.

Gopperth kicked a fourth-minute penalty after Irish made three unforced errors, handing the Falcons good field position, and then straying offside.

The Exiles were back on level terms with a Tom Homer penalty in the 12th minute after Newcastle infringed at a ruck.

The home side then conceded a soft try when they lost their own line-out in the Irish 22 and Armitage's kick was deflected.

Newcastle were unable to control the loose ball and Irish swept away for Sailosi Tagicakibau to score.

Homer converted before Gopperth's 37th-minute drop goal after a series of controlled drives made the half-time score 10-6.

On the back foot

Six minutes into the second half, Gopperth landed a 45-metre penalty after the Falcons scrum had Irish on the back foot and when Homer missed a straightforward penalty, it appeared to lift Newcastle.

The game-changer happened when Shortland intercepted Armitage's pass after Irish had been three-on-one on the Newcastle 10-metre line.

He proceeded to race in for the try converted by Gopperth, who then hit the post with a long-range penalty.

However, he had another chance with 14-man Newcastle well on top with four minutes left and this time made no mistake from the same distance.