A first-half enriched with promise and cutting edge, proved too little for Newcastle Falcons, as they tasted defeat against Exeter Chiefs, in the Aviva Premiership, on Saturday, at Sandy Park.

Alan Tait’s men dominated their hosts for large periods of the first stanza, and were playing an exciting brand of rugby. However following the break, the Chiefs sprung into action, crossing the whitewash three times on their way to securing a bonus point win.

Newcastle were a converted try down after just two minutes courtesy of a Josh Tatupu touchdown under the posts.

The Falcons would not be deterred by this early set-back and were soon enjoying a period of sustained pressure, with James Fitzpatrick and Greg Goosen making a significant impression in the backline.

Buoyed by their resurgence into the game, the northeasterners looked the more likely to register the next score, but Exeter edged further in front against the run of play.

On 22 minutes, Ignacio Mieres extended the home side’s lead with a penalty, after the Falcons were penalised for an infringement at the scrum. 

10-0 down, Newcastle continued to play some excellent counter-attacking rugby, with Goosen’s line-break, a highlight.

And Newcastle were rewarded for their endeavour in attack on the half-hour mark with a five-point score from stand in winger Tom Catterick. The visitors made good use of an overlap on the left to unleash Catterick in at the corner, to the delight of the North-East travelling contingent.

Rob Baxter’s industrious outfit took their opportunity in front of the posts once more moments later, thanks to a Mieres penalty, for a 13-5 lead.

On the stroke of half-time, Will Welch, who was having a decent game, sliced through the Chiefs rearguard to go inches of the Exeter try line.

From the breakdown, Newcastle spun the ball wide before been awarded a penalty in front of the uprights. Jimmy Gopperth duly obliged to reduce the arrears to 13-8 at half-time.

In the second period, Newcastle struggled to take the game by the scruff of the neck and it was the Chiefs who imposed themselves on the game.

First, Sireli Naqelevuki barged his way through to score under the posts, before winger Matt Jess broke from deep to feed Phil Dollman for a try five minutes from time.

The Kingston Park outfit did finish with a flourish, with Fitzpatrick backing up a blistering burst by Eves to dive over the line. Gopperth added the extras for 27-15.

With full-time looming, Exeter had their sights firmly set on a bonus point victory, and they sealed this by virtue of a Jason Shoemark try from the last play to end the game 32-15.  

Exeter: Dollman; Tatupu, Naqelevuki, Shoemark, Jess; Mieres, Thomas; Sturgess, Whitehead, Tui; Hayes, Short; Johnson, Scaysbrook, Baxter

Replacements: Rennie for Tatupu (37), Barrett for Thomas (35), Muldowney for Sturgess (58), Clark for Whitehead (50), Moon for Short (58)

Newcastle: Goosen; Fielden, Eves, Fitzpatrick, Catterick; Gopperth, Pilgrim; Shiells, Vickers, Wells, Hudson, Swinson, Wilson, Welch, R. Mayhew

Replacements: Pasqualin for Pilgrim (57), Hall for Wells (48), Townson for Swinson (57), Hogg for R. Mayhew (49)

Att: 5,405

Ref: Chris White (RFU).