English League: London Irish - 15 Newcastle - 19 Dave Walder followed the lead of his Newcastle team mate Jonny Wilkinson by booting an 81st minute drop-goal to clinch victory at the Madejski Stadium yesterday.
The hosts appeared to be heading for victory themselves thanks to a fightback led by Barry Everitt's flawless effort with the boot, but Newcastle never gave up and were rewarded with their first league win on the road since February.
The Exiles, unbeaten at home this season, will feel disappointed to have finished with just a losing bonus point for a brave performance, but Newcastle just about deserved to take the honours.
The conditions were dreadful. But heavy rain did not dent the Falcons' attacking ambition as they ran the ball as often as possible, and their endeavour paid off in the sixth minute with a beautifully worked try.
A five-metre scrum saw the ball fed to Walder, who linked with Mark Mayerhofler and took the return pass before setting up unmarked centre Jamie Noon with a simple run-in. Walder added the conversion and then slotted a tricky penalty as the Falcons continued to press.
With Scotland international Stuart Grimes back in the second row - his first club start following a stint at the World Cup - Newcastle were winning plenty of ball.
Irish managed to claw their way back into the match with two long-range Everitt penalties in quick succession, the visitors finishing the first half with a flurry as the Falcons' discipline eroded.
They could not carry that form into the opening exchanges of the second half, however, as Newcastle tore into their opponents. A Walder penalty followed only for Everitt to go one better by adding two three-pointers.
Irish squandered a fine opportunity when Darren Edwards chose to go it alone but the home team could not be denied for long, Everitt splitting the uprights with a sweet drop-goal. However, Newcastle finished strongly with Walder kicking a penalty and that injury-time drop-goal to end his side's away jinx.
Scorers: London Irish - Pens: Everitt 4. Drop-goals: Everitt. Newcastle - Tries: Noon. Cons: Walder. Pens: Walder 3. Drop-goals: Walder.
LONDON IRISH: Horak; Sackey, Appleford, Mordt, Bishop; Everitt, Edwards; Hatley, Drotske, Durant, Kennedy, Casey, Danaher, Dawson, Murphy. Subs Not Used: Wheatley, Flavin, Burke, Gustard, Greenstock, Barrett, Mapletoft.
NEWCASTLE: Gollings; May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson; Walder, Charlton; Peel, Thompson, Ward, Archer, Grimes, Taione, Britz, Vyvyan. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Hurter, Makin, Dunbar, Dowson, Grindal, Godman.
Referee: David Rose (RFU).
