Gloucester started without James Forrester due to injury and the England back-row man was replaced by Academy player Luke Narraway, who went on to put in a good showing as well as scoring the bonus point try in the second period.

Newcastle started well and took the lead from a Dave Walder penalty in the opening minutes, but as the game took shape Gloucester stamped their authority on proceedings.

Terry Fanolua was breaking every Newcastle tackler that dared give it a go, and it was the Samoan who started the move that saw Gloucester claim their first touch down.

Fanolua made good metres and Narraway was held up close to the line before the Falcons cleared. The Gloucester pack brought play straight back up the middle, and Andy Gomarsall's break out wide found space and he dived over in the corner just after 20 minutes.

Five minutes later Gloucester grabbed their second try, when Fanolua drew the Falcons defence, and Marcel Garvey took Henry Paul's pass at full pace for the score. Paul converted.

A Henry Paul drop goal added to the score before Gloucester scored their third try just before half time. Gomarsall and Balding all had a hand in the move, before Fanolua powered over from 10 metres out to see Gloucester take a 22-6 half time lead.

The Falcons moved Walder to stand-off at half time and the change was key to their second half comeback.

Gloucester almost the game beyond the home side in the opening moments of the second period, but Kiole was judged to have put a foot in touch, before Newcastle hit back.

Michael Stephenson's converted try on 60 minutes brought the Falcons back into the game. Only seven minutes later Mathew Tait's try after good work from the Newcastle forwards saw the game change.

With only six minutes remaining Mayerhofler made the most of the advantage rule and went through under the posts. Walder's conversion saw Newcastle take a 27-22 lead with minutes left.

But it only took two minutes for Gloucester to get back into it and save the points. Henry Paul went to touch from a penalty on half way. From the driving line-out Luke Narraway came up with the ball in the corner to bring the scores level. Henry Paul was close with his conversion attempt, but a draw and the four-try bonus point saw Gloucester take three vital Premiership points from a tough away clash.

Match Summary:

2 mins:
Dave Walder stepped up for Newcastle's first scoring chance after Gloucester were penalised outside their 22, but in front of the posts. The kick was successful.

(3-0 to Newc)

4 mins:
Henry Paul gave Gloucester superb field position after a kick from inside his own half finished close to the sideline inside the Falcons 22, and Stephenson had to put it into touch. The home side were penalised and Paul opted for the posts. His kick hit the post and Wood almost gathered for a try. Newcastle cleared, and Gloucester countered with Peter Buxton, who made metres into the Falcons 22. The ball was spread wide to Paul, Fanolua and Garvey.

11 mins:
Gloucester broke down the short side with a chip ahead from Terry Fanolua, Narraway was in support inside the 22, but he knocked on as Fanolua picked up the loose ball to race over the try line. Newcastle cleared from the scrum.

13 mins:
Gloucester started to make in-roads into the Falcons half with some pro-longed pressure. Fanolua barged Mark Wilkinson out of the way in one move, Narraway continued the attack, before Gomarsall switched direction, but Balding's hands let him down as he found himself in space on the wing.

16 mins:
Gloucester continued to spread it wide and Kiole took it on on the Newcastle 22. Balding continued the drive, again with Narraway in close proximity. Gomarsall recycled and Henry Paul's looping pass found Fanolua 10 metres out. A side step from the Samoan saw him break the Falcons line, but he was held up just one metres short.

19 mins:
Again Fanolua broke the first tackle, and again Narraway was in support, as Gloucester countered into the Newcastle half. Narraway was held up just one metre short, before the referee penalised Gloucester for not releasing.

21 mins:
Newcastle cleared, and again Gloucester brought the ball straight back into the Falcons midfield. From the base of ruck on the home side's 22, Andy Gomarsall took the ball out wide and arced his way round the Newcastle back-line. Stephenson stayed marking Garvey out wide and the England scrum-half cut inside for the try. Paul's touchline conversion was just wide.

(5-3 to Glos)

25 mins:
Gloucester continued to dominate from the restart. The forwards drove the Falcons pack back 20 metres to within 10 metres of the try-line. Gomarsall and Paul combined at halfback and Fanolua made a dummy run that fooled the Falcons defence, and Garvey took the pass at full space and stepped inside to go over for the score. Paul converted.

(12-3 to Glos)

29 mins:
Newcastle's Tom May wouldn't get out of the way as the Falcons were penalised. Referee David Rose took the home side back 10 metres and Henry Paul opted for the posts on the halfway line, but his kick was just short.

31 mins:
Adam Eustace was penalised for pushing Mayerhofler to one side as the Kiwi centre went for a high ball. Walder pointed to the posts and slotted the kick.

(12-6 to Glos)

33 mins:
Gloucester scored straight from the re-start. Mayerhofler sliced a clearance kick and Garvey one his challenge for the high ball on the Falcons 22 with Stephenson. Fanolua took the pass and had Buxton in support, and again, was held up just short. Gomarsall recycled and Henry Paul stepped back into the pocked and slotted the drop goal.

(15-6 to Glos)

39 mins:
Fanolua grabbed Gloucester's third try of the game just short of half time. Gomarsall recycled the ball from a ruck in front of the posts on the Falcons 22. Paul found Narraway, who was having a superb game in place of the injured James Forrester. Captain Adam Balding took the ball on and Gomarsall switched direction to keep the play going. Fanolua took his pass and just walked through the visitor's defence for his first of the match. Paul converted.

(22-6 to Glos)

Half time: Newcastle 6 Gloucester 22

Newcastle replaced Wilkinson with Joe Shaw, and Dave Walder moved to fly-half. Ian Peel came on for James Isaacson in the front row.

41 mins:
Gloucester looked to have grabbed the fourth try straight from the restart as Kiole broke down the short side and had Alex Brown in support who ran through, but the touch judge ruled the Tongan had put a foot in touch.

47 mins:
Newcastle finally put some passes together and camped themselves in the Gloucester 22 for a good five minutes. A series of penalties came their way, and each time they went for the quick tap or a kick to touch instead of the three points.

49 mins:
Narraway stole Newcastle line-out ball and sprinted clear, off-loading to Paul and then Fanolua before the Samoan midfield man cleared with his boot.

52 mins:
Matt Thompson came on for Andy Long at hooker for the Falcons.

53 mins:
James Simpson-Daniel did superbly well to juggle a ball as it came flying out from a ruck. Gloucester kicked ahead and Shaw's kick was charged down by Garvey. Nigel Melville's team kept it tight and more importantly kept the play in the Falcons half.

59 mins:
Sititi and Charlton came on for Grindal and McCarthy.

60 mins:
Newcastle grabbed their first try. Mayerhofler broke from inside his own half, and Simpson-Daniel pulled him down on half way, but he off-loaded to Tait, who chipped ahead. The young Newcastle centre chased with Stephenson and Goodridge couldn't gather as the ball bounced all over the pitch. Stephenson grabbed the score and Walder converted.

(22-13 to Glos)

67 mins:
Newcastle hit back. The forwards moved the ball up the middle of the park through a number of phases, before the ball went out wide and Tait took the inside line 40 metres out and outpaced Goodridge for the try-line. Walder converted.

Terry Sigley came on for Powell.

(22-20 to Glos)

68 mins:
Fanolua almost grabbed his second try from the re-start, but he was pulled down on the 22 and Narraway just couldn't hold on to the pass.

Geoff Parling came on for Luke Gross.

70 mins:
Referee David Rose awarded a penalty to Newcastle 12 metres into the Gloucester half. Walder stepped up, and pulled his effort wide.

(22-20 to Glos)

74 mins:
The Falcons continued their comeback when the referee let them play advantage inside the Gloucester 22. Hall Charlton offered a perfect pop-up pass for Mayerhofler to hit at full pace and run a try in under the posts. Walder converted.

(27-22 to Newc)

76 mins:
Gloucester were awarded a penalty inside the Newcastle half and Henry Paul took play to within 10 metres of the home side's try line. From the set piece the forwards drove the Falcons backwards and Narraway came up with the touch down (77 mins) and a four-try bonus point for Gloucester. Henry Paul had a touch line conversion that was millimetres wide.

(27-27)

79 mins:
Mark Cornwell came on for Adam Eustace.

80 mins:
Brown stole Newcastle line-out ball but the forwards couldn't make the most of the possession as they opted for the short side inside the Newcastle half.

80 mins (and injury time)
Seti Kiole could have sealed the win for Gloucester in the dying seconds as Balding made yards down the blind side and the Tongan took it on, running 30 metres, but Shaw's last ditch tackle saved the day for the home side.

Line-ups:

15. Dave Walder, 14. Tom May, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Mark Mayerhofler, 11 Michael Stephenson, 10 Mark Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 1 James Isaacson, 2 Andy Long, 3 Micky Ward, 4 Luke Gross, 5 Craig Hamilton, 6 Mike McCarthy, 7 Cory Harris, 8 Phil Dowson (captain)

Replacements:
16 Ian Peel, 17 Galo Alvares Quinones, 18 Matt Thompson, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Semo Sititi, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Joe Shaw

Gloucester:
15. Jon Goodridge, 14. Marcel Garvey, 13. James Simpson-Daniel, 12. Terry Fanolua, 11. Seti Kiole, 10. Henry Paul, 9. Andy Gomarsall, 1. Nick Wood, 2. Noel Curnier, 3. Gary Powell, 4. Adam Eustace, 5. Alex Brown, 6. Peter Buxton, 7. Luke Narraway, 8. Adam Balding (c)

Replacements:
16. Rob Elloway, 17. Terry Sigley, 18. Mark Cornwell, 19. Will Matthews, 20. Alex Page
21. Brad Davies, 22. Nathan Mauger

Attendance: 6,333