Connacht whitewashed as Falcons take revenge

European Challenge Cup/Newcastle 39 Connacht 0:Connacht were given no early Christmas present in Newcastle last evening. In freezing weather, the Falcons avenged their narrow Sportsground loss with a thumping victory in the second of their back-to-back European Challenge Cup fixtures.

Newcastle started at a fierce pace, utilising their world-class backs at every opportunity, and they executed their game plan to perfection, chipping away in the first half and finishing with a flourish in the second.

It puts the Guinness Premiership side into a commanding position in Pool Three, and Connacht, without a bonus point here, will be hoping Falcons continue their form when they meet Brive in the New Year. The French, who beat El Salvador 40-8 yesterday, are six points above Connacht and lead Falcons on points difference. And if Connacht are to qualify as runner-ups, they will need to win their remaining two outings - at home to Brive and away to El Salvador - with bonus points.

The weather in Newcastle prompted a late pitch inspection, but the game attracted a bumper crowd of 7,426.

Connacht were still in the match at half-time, despite being 13-0 down, but Falcons romped home, bagging the bonus point in injury-time and completing the five-try rout in the 87th minute.

Newcastle enjoyed most of the possession but led only 6-0 before scoring the opening try in first-half injury-time.

At the heart of all their best moves was Jonny Wilkinson, centre Mathew Tait and right wing Tim Visser, who repaid his selection with a try.

Within minutes the Dutchman had set Kingston Park alight when he was stopped inches from the line by Conor O'Loughlin after Wilkinson's chip, chase and catch set up the scoring platform.

Connacht then had to rely on fullback Gavin Duffy after another kick-and-chase from the Falcons before Wilkinson opened the scoring when Connacht were pinged for offside.

Connacht should have replied within minutes but Dunne's 35-metre penalty fell short, and though they started to put the ball through phases, Ofisa Treviranus was guilty of two knock-ons that halted the flow.

O'Loughlin, Matt Mostyn and replacement Tim Donnelly, with his first touch of the ball in the second half, were also guilty.

Wilkinson added another penalty in the 41st minute, and the Falcons made the crucial breakthrough four minutes later when Visser finished off in the right corner, Wilkinson adding the conversion for a 13-0 lead.

There was no stopping them thereafter, their pack providing the platform via set-pieces and rolling mauls.

A penalty to touch was rewarded when Tait slipped the cover for try number two, and six minutes later replacement Toby Flood chipped over the Connacht defence for the third.

As Newcastle chased the bonus try, Connacht could do little on meagre possession and it was really only a matter of time before the Falcons scored again.

The fourth try finally arrived in stoppage time courtesy of the replacement Ollie Phillips.

The winners finished with a flourish, a try from Wilkinson, who slotted his sixth kick from eight to more than avenge that Sportsground defeat.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; O Treviranus, D Yapp, M Deane, A Wynne; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley (capt); M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: M Mostyn for Deane (12 mins); D Gannon for Swift, R Ofisa for McCarthy, T Donnelly for Dunne (all 53 mins); J Fogarty for Flavin (55 mins); R Loughney for Morris (60 mins); A Dunne for Donnelly (70 mins). Sinbinned: Ofisa (75 mins).

NEWCASTLE FALCONS: T May; T Visser, M Tait, J Noon (capt), J Rudd; J Wilkinson, L Dickson; J McDonnell, M Thompson, C Hayman; A Perry, M Sorenson; G Parling, B Woods, R Winter. Replacements: T Flood for Visser (48 mins); A Long for Thompson, J Grindal for Dickson (both 55 mins); O Phillips for May (62 mins); B Wilson for Parling (64 mins); J Golding for McDonnell (70 mins); S Tomes for Perry (73 mins).

Referee: P Allan (Scotland).