It was Newcastle who got the better of the starts, and after a few quick penalities given away by the hosts, it was the Falcons who got the first try through captain George McGuigan who buried his way over from close range. Rory Clegg converted to make it 0-7 after 8minutes.

The early try seemed to spark Sale into life, and after a few big tackles from Mark Jennings & Charlie Ingall, the hosts got their first points on the board after 17 minutes as Newcastle were penalised for holding on to the ball in their own 22. Mark Lawrence kicked the penalty to make it 3-7.

Mark Jennings made a superb break from his own half midway through the first half. He ran over the halfway line and offloaded to Charlie Ingall who carried on the great break. The winger looked around for support and passed it to Viliami Fihaki, but the referee adjudged the pass to be forward!

After 28 minutes, Newcastle Falcons earned a penalty which Rory Clegg kicked to make it 3-10. Newcastle looked for another score but super defence from the hosts forced them to spill the ball, and James Mitchell put in a superb clearance kick up field to relieve some of the pressure.

With the last 5 minutes of the half to go, the Sharks seemed to up the anti and after a penalty won at scrum time, Sam James kicked for the corner. The Sharks tried to maul it over the line, but it was brought down & after a number of pick & go's Viliami Fihaki buried his way over the try line to score! Mark Lawrence got the conversion to make it 10-10 heading into half time.

The second half began, and it was Newcastle who got the quickier of the starts thanks to centre Peter Weightman who scored for the visitors after neat footwork and handing off a few defenders to score a try. Clegg got the conversion to make it 10-17 after 42 minutes.

Sale fought back straight away, thanks to Mitchell & Max Himbury combining but the winger knocked on. From that scrum, Sale earned the penalty and elected to go for the corner, they had a 5m lineout to attack. They went short, but Cameron Neild knocked on and a good chance disappeared.

55 minutes had gone, and the Sharks earned a penalty as Newcastle went off their feet. Mitchell went to the corner, and the forwards mauled it on & James Flynn scored! Mark Lawrence missed the difficult try line conversion. The score line was 15-17.

Was this a potential momentum swing? Possible, as the Sharks seized the match by the scruff of its neck and soon after, got another try thanks to second row George Nott. He went over in the right wing following a huge overlap. Lawrence just missed another touchline conversion to make it 20-17.

However, from kick off, a silly penalty was given away by the Sharks and Rory Clegg pointed at the posts and got it to make it 20-20 after 65 minutes.

It was a tense final 15 minutes with both sides trying to claim the win, however after 72 minutes, Newcastle were penalised for a high tackle. In front of the posts, James Mitchell got the penalty to make it 23-20. With 75 minutes gone on the clock, the Sharks earned another penalty which Mitchell decided to go for again, but it was just under crossbar of the posts and the Falcons cleared.

Newcastle had the possession of the ball with the final action of the match, but the Sharks defended well to see out the game to win 23-20.