Top versus bottom. No contest, said the Kingston Park faithful. Yet after half an hour, when they led the league leaders for a third time, lowly London Irish were hinting at an upset.

Then the storm struck. It was Hurricane Jim, the former Orrell wing Naylor, who suddenly and swiftly wrenched the match from the Exiles' tenuous grip with a hat-trick in 11 minutes one either side of the break.

In the encircling gloom - surely Newcastle's floodlights are the worst of any senior club's - the Londoners continued to play with courage and imagination, but they simply could not cope with the collective superiority of the home side.

Garath Archer and George Graham had towering second half performances - quite a feat for the tiny loose-head prop, who was unfortunate not to add his name to the scorers - while, outside the scrum, the powerful running of Va'aiga Tuigamala, who picked up his 11th try of the season, posed constant problems for the Irish - as did Gary Armstrong behind his pack.

David Humphreys gave the Irish the encouragement of an early score with a well-taken drop goal in the fourth minute and, though Archer replied with a driving try which Rob Andrew converted, the Irish riposte was immediate. After a good build-up, their half-backs released Mark McCall and the newcomer Matthew Morahan, a recruit from Australia, to send Justin Bishop stepping through Andrew's tackle for a try which Niall Woods converted from the touchline.

Splendid tackling by Bishop kept Tuigamala subdued until the 27th minute when he stepped out of two tackles and thundered over from close range. Andrew failed to convert.

Woods - more impressive with his kicking - punished Newcastle's misdemeanour with a penalty and the scant Irish support gave vent to their feelings as the game swung in the visitors' favour again.

That, though, was effectively the end of the rebellion. Childs made a fine run down the left, and when Newcastle spun the ball right Naylor, though hemmed in, shrugged off four tackles before crossing. Moments later he was in again after Pat Lam picked up a loose ball and fed the wing 35 yards out.

Nor was Naylor done. Four minutes after break he intercepted a Niall Hogan pass and raced clear form halfway to complete his first hat-trick for the club.

A rout now seemed imminent, especially when slick passing by Armstrong and Ryan swept the Irish back. Graham almost made it, but Armstrong, up in support, had no difficulty providing the scoring penetration.

Archer's second try had the crowd on their feet, and Legg, taking over kicking duties from Andrew, fired a splendid conversion before Ross Nesdale scored the eighth and final try.