Falcons power past Petrarca

Tom Catterick races clear for the first of seven Newcastle tries

Newcastle Falcons proved there is life after Alan Tait with a thumping victory over Petrarca to keep themselves in the mix for an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final place this season.

Tait quit as coach of the Premiership side just a few days before the match to be replaced by the high-profile pair of Gary Gold, the former South Africa assistant coach, and Mike Ford, the former England defence coach.

The Premiership outfit, who crossed for seven tries against Petrarca, got their season back on track and managed the all-important bonus-point victory at Kingston Park to keep the pressure on pool leaders Toulon.

The Falcons travel to France to face European rugby's new boys Lyon next weekend, knowing they have to win to stand any chance of making the knockout stages of the tournament.

Solitary try

The English side only had a try by full-back Tom Catterick, who latched onto a chip by Luke Fielden, to show for their first-half efforts and were only 7-0 ahead at the break against the Italian part-timers.

Centre James Fitzpatrick scored the home side's second try after the break to double their lead before fly-half Joel Hodgson's impressive support play saw him cross under the posts to make it 21-0.

Wing Ryan Shortland crossed for the Falcons' bonus-point try before scrum-half Jordi Pasqualin, prop Ashley Wells and Shortland again crossed to secure a vital home win.

However, Toulon remain in the driving seat in Pool Two after recording a 29-10 victory over fellow Top 14 side Lyon on Sunday evening.

Jonny Wilkinson, captain for the night, kicked three conversions and a penalty while also having a hand in number eight Leonardo Senatore's crucial try that gave Toulon a 10-3 lead at the break.

Winger Benjamin Lapeyre crossed for a brace of tries in the second half to keep Toulon, who reached the final of this competition in 2010 only to lose to the Cardiff Blues, two points clear of the Falcons at the top of the group.

The big-spending French club travel to travel to Italy to face part-timers Petrarca in the final round of fixtures.