| Perpignan (13) 23 |
| Tries: Granell, Dubois, Dupichot Cons: Barraque; Pens: Rodor 2 |
| Newcastle Falcons (9) 32 |
| Tries: O’Sullivan, Redshaw; Cons: Johnson 2; Pens: Johnson 6 |
Newcastle Falcons ended a run of 14 defeats as they finished their European Challenge Cup campaign with victory at Perpignan.
Three Louie Johnson penalties put Falcons 9-3 ahead before Maxim Granell and Lucas Dubois scores gave Perpignan a 13-9 half-time lead.
Falcons took charge after the break as Hugh O’Sullivan crossed and Ben Redshaw added a fine solo try.
Johnson added two long-range penalties before Louis Dupichot’s reply.
Newcastle were already out of the competition, but victory in a dead rubber gives them a fourth-placed finish in Pool B, above Perpignan, and some momentum before Steve Diamond’s forthcoming arrival as consultant director of rugby.
Forwards coach Micky Ward took interim charge of the Falcons for the first time after head coach Alex Codling stepped down on Friday in the midst of a miserable campaign.
Falcons made a poor start in Southern France when they conceded a penalty from kick-off and fell behind to Matteo Rodor’s penalty.
Yet despite losing all 11 of their Premiership matches and three European games – after four wins from five in the Premiership Rugby Cup – the English side responded well, forcing mistakes which allowed Johnson to boot them into a six-point lead after 18 minutes.
Momentum swung back Perpignan’s way as Granell dived in after a 5m tap penalty, and five minutes before the break, the hosts had the lead when Dubois returned a kick all the way from 30 metres.
Rodor’s second penalty extended the lead to 16-9 after the break but Newcastle responded in style.
Freddie Lockwood fed O’Sullivan to race in from 25 metres and bring the visitors level, before Redshaw produced the moment of the match with 14 minutes left.
The 19-year-old took a superb high catch from a speculative kick before heading off on a snaking run down the right wing which beat three defenders on his way to the line.
Johnson, just a year Redshaw’s senior, then capped his excellent afternoon with two monster penalties to put the Falcons out of sight and cement a much-needed win.
Perpignan: Dupichot, Granell, Poulet, Naqalevu, Dubois, Rodor, Deghmache; Chiocci, Montgaillard, Roelofse, Chinarro, Tuilagi, M’Foudi, Galletier (capt), Moro.
Replacements: Jincharadze, Lotrian, Ceccarelli, Labouteley, Orie, Ugena, Barraque, Duguivalu.
Newcastle: Obatoyinbo, Redshaw, Moroni, Hutchison, Stevenson, Johnson, Barton; Brocklebank, Byrne (capt), McCallum, Hawkins, de Chaves, Rubiolo, Cross, Lockwood.
Replacements: van Vuuren, Dormer, Bello, Kelly, Bainbridge, O’Sullivan, Jennings, Spencer.
Referee:
