Exeter Chiefs went down to a 29-24 defeat at Newcastle as the Falcons recorded a first league win in 21 attempts this afternoon.
Despite turning around with a 15-14 lead at the interval after playing into the wind, Rob Baxter's side conceded two late tries to go down to a second defeat this season.
The visitors opened the scoring as pressure from the forwards paid off as Thomas Waldrom was driven over for a try, but Gareth Steenson missed the conversion.
Juan Pablo Socino reduced the deficit with a penalty before putting his side ahead with a second kick after 12 minutes.
Waldrom's fellow back-rower Ben White restored Exeter's lead as Ian Whitten pounced into a loose ball and fed the flanker to cross for a try, but again the wind caused Steenson to miss the conversion.
However, the lead was shortlived as winger Sinoti Sinoti finished off a counter-attack to dot down, with Socino also missing the extras. However, the fly-half made it 14-10 with his third penalty shortly afterwards.
On the stroke of half-time centre Henry Slade went over for his side's third try, with Steenson's conversion attempt rebounding off the upright as they turned around 15-14 ahead.
Socino landed his fourth penalty early in the second half but Steenson responded from distance with his first successful kick of the afternoon with the wind behind him and added a second soon after.
A third Steenson penalty extended Exeter's advantage to 24-17 with 15 minutes left to play.
However, a try from Tom Catterick and conversion from Socino saw the home side draw level with 12 minutes remaining.
And Noah Cato gave Newcastle the lead with a try two minutes later, with Socino missing the conversion.
Exeter pushed for an equalising try late on but the home players defended well to close out the victory.Newcastle: Tait; Sinoti (Catterick, 50), Tiesi, Powell, Cato; Socino Tipuna (Blair, 63); Brookes (Rogers, 63), Lawson (Hawkins, 63), Wilson (Tomaszczyk, 63), Green, Barrow (Furno, 65), Wilson (Mayhew, 65), Welch, Hogg. Rep (not used): CleggScorers: tries - Sinoti, Catterick, Cato; con - Socino; pens - Socino (4)Exeter Chiefs: Dollman; James (Botha, 71), Slade, Whitten (Hill, 63), Jess; Steenson, Chudley (Thomas, 69); Moon, Yeandle, Francis (Low, 69), Armand, Welch (Caldwell, 60), Ewers, White (Horstmann, 71), Waldrom. Reps (not used): Taione, RimmerScorers: tries - Waldrom, White, Slade; pens - Steenson (3)Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
