Falcons flawed in France

Jonny Wilkinson: Put the boot into his old club

Toulon emphatically ended Newcastle's perfect record in this season's Amlin Challenge Cup with a 36-10 triumph at Stade Felix Mayol.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty and four conversions against his old club on the day it was announced he would be staying on for one more year in Toulon.

The hosts ran in five tries in total to claim a bonus point that means they now sit two points clear of the Falcons at the top of Pool 2.

Corne Uys did cross for the visitors but his late try was no more than a consolation effort as Newcastle were well beaten on their travels.

Former Falcon Wilkinson kicked Toulon in front after just eight minutes with a penalty, but Jeremy Manning levelled matters with three points of his own.

Two-try burst

Geoffroy Messina touched down after 18 minutes to put the Top 14 outfit back in front and they then hit their opponents with a two-try burst right before the break.

Christian Lomanu grabbed both of them, firstly using his strength to drive over the line before taking Mathieu Bastareaud's pass and going in at the corner.

Wilkinson added the extras on each occasion to give Toulon a commanding 22-3 lead going into the half-time interval.

Any hopes Newcastle had of making a second-half comeback were then quickly dashed when Effion Roberts muscled his way over four minutes after the restart to wrap up the bonus point.

Wilkinson converted the prop's effort and was also on target with his kick after replacement David Smith added a fifth score on the hour mark.

Uys at least made sure the Falcons crossed, racing in from 30 metres out eight minutes from time for a try that Manning successfully converted.

In the other game in the group, former England full-back Mark Van Gisbergen scored 13 points, including the last of his team's six tries, as Lyon beat Petrarca 43-3.