Gloucester leave it late
James Bailey and Akapusi Qera scored late tries as Gloucester overcame Newcastle 28-20.
Last Updated: 23/02/08 6:37pm
James Bailey and Akapusi Qera scored two tries in the final six minutes as Gloucester maintained their standing at the top of the Guinness Premiership following a 28-20 victory over Newcastle.
Tries from Ollie Phillips (38) and Tom May (40) had looked to have secured the Falcons the points as they led 20-16 going into the final stretch.
But James Simpson-Daniel (62) got the home side back into the contest before Bailey (74) and Qera (80) rescued victory from the jaws of defeat.
Mistakes
Despite all their possession Gloucester trailed 14-9 going into half-time after taking the lead through three Willie Walker penalties.
Falcons fly-half Steve Jones prevented what looked a certain Gloucester try on 25 minutes, with a blatant offside interception and was deservedly sent to the sin bin. But Walker kicked his third three-pointer and the league leaders looked in control at that stage.
Sloppy mistakes cost the league leaders though as Phillips capitalised on a mix-up between Walker and Ryan Lamb 15m shy of the posts for Newcastle's first try of the game.
Another turnover was punished as the Falcons worked their way to within 10m of Gloucester's line and New Zealand prop Carl Hayman found May cutting a sweet angle for the Falcons' second try. The full-back added the conversion on the stroke of half-time and Newcastle led by five.
Comeback
A penalty and drop-goal early in the second half put the Falcons 20-9 up before Gloucester tightened up their game and started to regain control on the hour mark.
Jack Adams sent Simpson-Daniel over for Gloucester's first try to get the Kingsholm crowd believing and the winger was involved in the second 12 minutes later.
Newcastle showed signs of fatigue as the clock ticked down and the sustained pressure eventually told when Anthony Allen and Andy Hazell combined to send replacement full-back Bailey over to give the home side the lead.
Luke Narraway charged down May's drop-goal attempt in the dying seconds and the ball popped up on halfway for flanker Qera to run in and seal the victory. Walker kicked the conversion and Gloucester had their unlikely victory, denying the Falcons even a bonus point in the process.
