Gloucester 13-18 Newcastle Falcons: Waldouck and Tait tries give visitors surprise win
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 24/09/16 5:53pm
Newcastle Falcons secured a second Aviva Premiership win of the season as they surprised Gloucester with an 18-13 win at Kingsholm.
The scores were level at the break with Gloucester back-row Ross Moriarty getting their only try of the match, which fly-half Billy Burns converted. Burns also added a penalty and Scottish international Greig Laidlaw kicked a second-half penalty.
Newcastle withstood persistent pressure and scored a first-half try from centre Dominic Waldouck that was converted by fly-half Mike Delany. Delany added two penalties, while Alex Tait scored the all-important second Falcons try in the second-half.
It was a frantic opening quarter in which Newcastle started strongly and seized the first chance to go ahead.
Home scrum-half Willi Heinz was turned over at a ruck inside his own 22 as opposite number Sonatane Takulua swept the ball left.
Centre Juan Pablo Socino then showed great pace in midfield to set-up partner Waldouck for an easy run-in that Delany converted.
However the lead only lasted three minutes, as Gloucester struck back when Burns popped the ball to Moriarty on the Newcastle 22 and he ran over for the converted try.
Gloucester upped their intensity and had the Falcons perched on their own line and conceding a series of penalties that eventually led to Burns putting the home side ahead with a 25-metre shot at goal.
Gloucester had another chance to make inroads towards the Falcons line but knocked on as the teams drew breath at the interval locked at 10-10.
Burns missed a long-range penalty before being replaced by Wales international James Hook, while England cap Ben Morgan stormed down the left and linked up with Moriarty but the final pass back to the No 8 fell short of Morgan's hands and was hoofed clear by Mark Wilson.
And after soaking up so much pressure in their own half, the Falcons hit back to re-take the lead when Gloucester infringed on their 10-metre line and Delany slotted a 40-metre penalty.
From there the tables were turned as Newcastle's pack, with former Gloucester hooker Scott Lawson a thorn in his old club's side, had the home side rattled.
The rejuvenated Falcons were rewarded when replacement Belisano Agulla picked up from a ruck to send Tait over.
Laidlaw, who came on for Heinz, put Gloucester back into striking range with a 40-metre penalty with seven minutes left but Newcastle held on to secure victory.
