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Last Updated: Sunday, 16 April 2006, 15:21 GMT 16:21 UK

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Newcastle 32-21 Sale

MATCH SUMMARY

Tom May on the way to scoring for Newcastle against Sale

Newcastle (13) 32
Tries: Long, May 2, Parling
Cons: Burke 3
Pens: Burke 2

Sale (16) 21
Tries: Fernandez Lobbe, Ripol
Cons: Courrent
Pens: Courrent 2
Drop: Robinson

Newcastle condemned Leeds to life in National League One next season after upsetting Sale at Kingston Park.

Needing three points from the final two games to avoid the drop, the Falcons got what they needed after coming from behind against the league leaders.

Sale were 21-13 ahead after 46 minutes with tries from Fernandez Lobbe and Spanish flyer Oriol Ripol.

But Newcastle responded and two tries from wing Tom May and one from lock Geoff Parling sealed victory.

Parling's score earned the Falcons their first try bonus point since scoring four against Leeds in November 2004.

Defeat continued Sale's miserable sequence at Kingston Park, where they have now lost all their 13 matches.

Sale made 12 changes to the side that beat Gloucester and struggled for ideas in the absence of Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan.

Wilkinson seeks Burke inspiration

Not only did the result secure Newcastle's Premiership status, the game also saw the return of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson, who last played for Newcastle in November, came on in the second half for his sixth comeback from injury since the 2003 World Cup final.

Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew:
"If there was ever a time to put in a performance then this was the time.

"The players have responded brilliantly all week and they produced one of the best performances of the season just when we needed it.

"It's the first time we've scored four tries this season - and it was against the leaders - after we had started to be dragged into something we didn't want to get dragged into (a relegation battle)."

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre:
"We created enough opportunities to score five or six tries but in this type of game if you are not clinical you will get punished.

"I'm sure we'll come back strongly for Bath and Northampton.

"We need around eight points from our last two games to guarantee a home semi-final and then it's a question of two more games to become champions."

Newcastle: Burke; May, Tait, Mayerhofler, Elliot; Flood, Grindal; Ward, Long, Morris; Gross, Parling; McCarthy, Harris, Charvis.
Replacements: Noon for Tait (66), J Wilkinson for Mayerhofler (40), Williams for Ward (40), Finegan for Gross (72), Woods for Harris (40).
Not Used: Mackie, Charlton.

Sin Bin: Ward (69).

Sale: Larrechea; Ripol, Mayor, Seveali'i, Robinson; Courrent, Martens; Roberts, Bruno, Stewart; Lobbe, Day; Bonner-Evans, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Hanley for Larrechea (61), Foden for Mayor (74), Wigglesworth for Martens (76), Turner for Roberts (48), Titterrell for Bruno (37), Hills for Day (57).
Not Used: White.

Sin Bin: Roberts (32), Martens (66).

Att: 9,018

Referee: Sean Davey (RFU).

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Interview: Newcastle's Jonny Wilkinson


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