Falcons grab late draw

Tim Swinson's close-range try three minutes from time earned Newcastle a 19-19 draw with Sale that eases both side's relegation worries.

The Sharks have won just once at Kingston Park in the Premiership and looked on course to double that tally after building up a 10-point lead with 20 minutes remaining.

But the Falcons hit back with a passionate display in the final quarter to grab a deserved share of the spoils.

It was a predictably tight encounter in difficult, wet conditions and the opening quarter was distinguished only by Jimmy Gopperth and Charlie Hodgson exchanging two penalties apiece.

The former England fly-half missed a chance to put Sale ahead on 23 minutes following a marginal late tackle by Mick Young, but two minutes later he made amends with a well-struck drop-goal.

After a string of ruck infringements, Newcastle lost Swinson to the sin-bin, but Sharks failed to score while the big lock was off the field.

Gopperth mis-hit a long-range penalty from halfway and Newcastle looked to have scored when Young broke clear and skipper James Hudson charged through, only for Hodgson to come up with a try-saving tackle as he prevented Hudson from grounding the ball.

Sale were driven back at the subsequent five-metre scrum and the penalty saw Gopperth level the scores just before the break.

Sale thought they had scored through Nick MaCleod early in the second half when the full-back darted through - only for the referee to rule the ball went forward in the build-up.

Opening try

But Sale did claim the opening try in the 55th minute when Sisa Koyamaibole drove over, although video replays showed hooker Marc Jones had knocked on - adding to the frustration of the Kingston Park crowd.

Hodgson landed the conversion and then added a penalty for Sale to go 19-9 clear with 20 minutes left.

However, Gopperth raised home hopes with his fourth penalty in the 64th minute, and Newcastle began to gain the upper hand on the back of a string of Sale infringements.

With three minutes left, Gopperth kicked a penalty to the corner and after a series of forward surges towards the line, Swinson powered over for the try next to the posts.

Gopperth converted and although Sale attempted to set up a drop-goal chance for Hodgson, the fly-half was way too far out and his attempt to win the game drifted short and wide.