Perpignan fall prey to Falcons

European Cup round-up: Newcastle Falcons recorded a 19-14 win over French visitors Perpignan thanks to a dominant first-half forward display in Pool Five yesterday. The Falcons were in front from the first minute but it needed a determined second-half defensive show to secure the win.

Newcastle opened the scoring when full-back Matt Burke was tackled late after a kick-ahead in the first half. Burke kicked the resulting penalty to make the score 3-0 to the home side.

Newcastle's first try came after they stole a Perpignan lineout 10 metres from the French try line. The forwards rumbled forward, sucking in the Perpignan defence. The ball was worked left to centre Matthew Tait, who scored in the left corner. Burke converted to make the score 10-3.

The visitors responded through Manny Edmonds. Scrum-half Nicolas Durand took a quick tap penalty and moved the ball on to Edmonds. The outhalf sliced open the Newcastle defence before bouncing off the covering Michael Stephenson to score. He failed to convert his own try.

A Burke penalty on 27 minutes kept Newcastle in front 13-8. Burke kicked another penalty on 31 minutes after Perpignan were penalised for killing the ball.

Perpignan kept in touch with a penalty from Diego Giannantonio, setting up a tense final 15 minutes with the scores at 16-11.

Dave Walder eased the pressure for Newcastle on 75 minutes to edge them 19-11 with a penalty.

And a Nicolas Laharrague drop goal two minutes from time kept the visitors interested but despite constant Perpignan pressure, Newcastle held out for the win.

In the other Pool Five game Newport-Gwent pulled off a 17-13 win at Edinburgh to prevent a second successive clean sweep of defeats for the four Welsh teams.

Hal Luscombe scored the decisive try and was rewarded by a call-up to the Welsh squad for the November internationals.

On Saturday, Wasps made it two wins from two when they beat Calvisano 31-22 in Italy but Pool One proved as tough as predicted with Leicester losing 23-8 in Biarritz.

Wasps rested some big names, including Lawrence Dallaglio, and winger Michael Roberts, grabbed his opportunity with a hat-trick of tries. Simon Shaw, back after a lengthy injury absence, also scored a try.

Wasps top Pool One after their opening win over Biarritz but face a huge game in the next round at the start of December against a Leicester team who cannot afford another defeat.

The twice European champions were well below par and were deservedly beaten by a Biarritz side who led 17-3 at half-time and were inspired by France centre Damien Traille.

In Pool Four, Harlequins ended their eight-match losing streak but were disappointed after a 23-23 home draw with Castres, who are in second on seven points.