Newcastle lose unbeaten European Challenge Cup record as Stade Francais prevail 31-24
Last Updated: 12/12/14 9:37am
Newcastle lost their unbeaten record in the European Challenge Cup as Stade Francais a late try to win a thrilling Pool 3 tie 31-24.
But Dean Richards' young side go home from the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris with a priceless losing bonus point, which could prove crucial in the final reckoning.
Both sides made seven changes from last weekend's contest at Kingston Park, which the Falcons won 30-23 to boost their hopes of qualification from a pool also containing Newport-Gwent Dragons and Romanian side Bucuresti.
Stade's forward power, especially at scrum time, helped them to four tries and a bonus point before half-time.
Argentinean centre Juan Pablo Socino had profited from a Mark Wilson charge down to score and give the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Tries from Krishnan Inu, Djibril Camara - the powerful wing leaving two defenders on their backsides - and Mark Williams put Stade in control. And the hosts were awarded a penalty try when a retreating Falcons pack illegally pulled down Stade's rampaging drive almost in front of their posts.
But Newcastle full-back Simon Hammersley was proving dangerous with ball in hand and he finished a superb Falcons move to make it 24-14 at the break.
The Falcons reduced the deficit when No 8 Wilson wriggled over from a quickly taken tap penalty and Rory Clegg added the extras, before levelling matters with a 25-metre penalty.
But with both sides down to 14 men due to yellow cards, Stade claimed the decisive score from a rolling maul with hooker Remi Bonfils believed to be the man at the bottom of a pile of bodies, with the home pack once again splintering the Falcons forwards.
Stade's five-point haul means they trail Newcastle by five points with two rounds of matches remaining, while the Dragons are four points behind the Falcons with a game in hand.
