Alan Dickens said he was proud of his Newcastle Falcons side despite a last-minute try denying them a Premiership Rugby Cup victory at Sale Sharks on Sunday.

Ben Bamber’s controversial late score saw the hosts running out 19-17 victors, but the Falcons still took top seeding and can look forward to a home quarter-final against Gloucester on Friday February 28.

Speaking after the game, the senior coach said: “Of course we’re disappointed with the loss, but we got the point we needed for top seeding and the boys fronted up.

“I’m really pleased with the performance even though they nicked it at the end, but this was a good Sale side who don’t lose many at home.

“If we wanted to be highly critical of ourselves we weren’t quite as clinical as we have been in the last few weeks, but this is a good Premiership-standard defence and naturally it’s more difficult.

“But for a couple of decisions at the end we would have come away with the win, and to go through as top seeds is a good overall return from our six games in the competition.”

Dickens added: “We scored a couple of good tries, Cam Neild came on for his debut after a long time out through injury and the boys will now get a rest leading into the quarter-final in a fortnight.

“That’s important because you want fresh bodies and minds going into these big games, and Gloucester at home in the quarter-final should be a great occasion.

“People might say it’s the Prem Cup, but when you retire you look back on what you’ve won during your career, and we have a big opportunity here.

“I was lucky enough to win the competition with Leeds back in the day, and it was a really proud moment. We’ve got a clear aspiration to win silverware, and the lads are really buying into it.”