Newcastle Falcons picked up a losing bonus point at home to Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership and remain rooted at the foot of the table.

A first-half try from Haydn Thomas and the boot of Ignacio Mieres did the damage as the Devon outfit climb to fifth in the league.

Newcastle had to soak up a barrage of pressure in the early stages with the visitors intent on an early score.

And on 11 minutes the Chiefs’ endeavour in attack was rewarded when Haydn Thomas raced in under the posts for a try.

The scrum-half picked up the ball from the ruck and following a neat dummy Thomas scooted in to touchdown despite the attempts of three Falcons defenders.

Mieres added the extras to give the men from Sandy Park a 7-0 lead.

A quick response was needed and the notheasterners very nearly got that response. An intelligent grubber into the corner by Jimmy Gopperth was almost collected by an onrushing Jeremy Manning with try line beckoning.

Manning was called into action moments later with a purposeful run which brought the passionate Kingston Park crowd to their feet.

His jinxing run set the platform for a Falcons attack midway inside the Chiefs half and the hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Andrew Small.

Gopperth was unable to reduce the arrears and the Chiefs had a 7-0 lead intact.

Alan Tait’s men pressurised the Chiefs’ rearguard on a series of occasions before the break but a Mieres penalty success from 25-metres out gave his side a 10-0 interval lead.

The Tyneside unit came out for the second stanza in positive mood and were soon on the scoreboard courtesy of a Gopperth penalty.

However Exeter punched their way up-field to win a penalty in front of the posts and Mieres made no mistake to make it 13-3 to the Chiefs.

Gopperth attempted two audacious penalties which missed the target before the Falcons spurred into action with a period of sustained pressure on the Exeter try-line.

Fielden went close in the corner after a sweeping Falcons move but the winger who was making his return from injury was bundled into touch.

A Mieres drop-goal with 10 minutes to play put the away side in a commanding position at 16-3 but the Falcons showed good spirit in clawing back a late try thanks to Tim Swinson.

Patient build up by the Falcons presented Swinson with the chance to crash over from close range and Gopperth’s conversion secured a losing bonus point for his troops.

Newcastle now have a run of four cup games which includes next week’s Amlin Challenge Cup meeting with Italian Champions Petrarca Padova.

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Newcastle: Goosen; Fielden, Hufanga, Fitzpatrick, Manning; Gopperth (capt), Pasqualin; Sheills, Vickers, Murray; Fondse, Swinson; Tu'ifua, Welch, R Mayhew.

Replacements: M Mayhew, Wells, Hall, Wilson, Hogg, Pilgrim, Bedford, Catterick.

Exeter: Arscott; Camacho, Sestaret, Shoemark, Jess; Mieres, Thomas; Sturgess, Clark, Tui; Hayes (capt), Muldowney; Johnson, Scaysbrook, Phillips.

Replacements: Alcott, Andress, Mitchell, Bentley, Ewers, Barrett, Steenson, Tatupu.

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).