Falcons' misery but hosts restore pride

THE battle of the battered ended with Newcastle becoming the third team to go through a Premiership campaign without a victory and generGloucester ating cheers rather than jeers.

- PAUL REES

The 85 points Newcastle leaked at Bristol last month was bettered by Gloucester who went for 90 at Northampton last week, much to the disgust of their fans, so the afternoon did not threaten to be a defensive masterclass.

And nor was it with both sides showing why they have been in the bottom two for so long. Newcastle showed grit and spirit but were lacking in players who made a difference.

Gloucester had several, not least Zach Mercer, Caolan Englefield and Chris Harris, and despite spending much of the game without the ball, not helped by an indisciplined first half, where Newcastle laboured in possession, the home side found space at will.

Newcastle had won three of their previous five Premiership matches at Kingsholm, but they never threatened to break their season's league duck despite spending most of the first half on the attack.