RUGBY UNION: ANDREW AGONY

NEWCASTLE were shattered by last-kick agony in their desperate battle to beat the drop.

Gloucester's Ludovic Mercier clinched victory with a conversion five minutes into injury time.

Rob Andrew's men led from 15 minutes in, until a superb corner- flag try from Gloucester full-back Thinus Delport levelled the score at 23-23.

Bottom-of-the-table Falcons were 20-0 ahead after 53 minutes but still managed to lose to the champions-elect.

Distraught coach Andrew said: "It's almost too hard to bare. I'm very proud with the way the guys performed but as disappointed as I've probably ever been too.

"In the end it just proved too much for us - albeit in the last five seconds."

He said: "We were within a whisker of turning Gloucester over at Kingsholm - if one of those sides is bottom and the other one top, then that just shows the quality of the Premiership.

"It's the injuries I'm worried about. Johnny Wilkinson took a knock in the mouth and may need more stitches.

"Each week we take each game on its merits. We've picked up three wins in our last three home games."

For the Cherry and Whites last week's Powergen Cup glory at Twickenham seemed to fade into history as Newcastle's defence shut them out.

A dismal first-half display by Gloucester allowed the Falcons to completely dominate.

Newcastle full back Joe Shaw opened the scoring 15 minutes in with a delightful try after quick hands from centre Mark Mayerhofler, but Wilkinson failed to convert.

And it was Mayerhofler who went over on 36 minutes after good work from winger Tom May whose tacking run severed Gloucester's bedraggled defence.

Having slotted a penalty on 19 minutes, Wilkinson duly converted.

If controversy overshadowed last year's Kingsholm fixture - after Tongan flanker Epi Taione claimed Gloucester's Olivier Azam racially abused him - this game will be remembered for similar reasons. Tempers flared after Taione's high tackle on Gloucester skipper Jake Boer on 26 minutes.

Moments later both packs were in a mass brawl before Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey and Falcons lock Stuart Grimes were sent off.

Andrew was twice ushered to his seat in the dug-out by match officials after rising to crowd provocation. Beaten on their last two outings against the Cherry and Whites, the Falcons were seeking revenge.

And with the half-time score 15-0 to the visitors, it looked like the Falcons' day.

Lock Mark Andrews stole the show with a 40-metre break from a cheeky interception to set up Falcons scrum-half James Grindal for a try five minutes after the break.

And at this stage, with Newcastle 20-0 ahead, the home side looked dead in the water.

Mercier opened Gloucester's account with a penalty on 53 minutes but the game seemed out of his side's grasp as the Falcons poured forward.

The Cherry and Whites followed up with a well-worked corner-flag touchdown from flanker Andy Hazell. Mercier missed the conversion.

Ten minutes later prop Trevor Woodman re-energised the Kingsholm crowd when he danced over for Gloucester's second try after appearing in the centre and scooping a long pass from scrum-half Andy Gomarsall.

Then came Delport's leveller after sustained Gloucester pressure. Having roared their side forward to unlock the Newcastle defence, the crowd then fell silent for Mercier's kick, before erupting in jubilation as ref Dave Pearson blew the final whistle.

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