Win boosts survival hopes for Newcastle Falcons

Dean Richards, Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Newcastle Falcons have taken a major step towards Premiership survival with a 13-6 win at home to London Irish.

The result at Kingston Park puts the Falcons seven points clear of today's opponents at the bottom of the table with just two games to go.

Marcus Watson scored the only try of the game in which the Exiles held on for a losing bonus point, with Newcastle’s heroic defence withstanding a concerted late charge from the visitors.

The Falcons had a 10-6 lead at the interval after an opening half which saw the hosts control the majority of play, spending large parts of the game camped in the Irish half.

Newcastle then added another three to their total when a late hit on Delany handed them a penalty, which was dispatched by Socino.

TV official Graham Hughes denied Irish a try when the ball was deemed touch-in-goal from a Shane Geraghty cross-kick.

But despite a nail-biting final five minutes the Falcons held on for the win, leaving them seven points clear of the foot of the table with just two games of the season remaining.