Rugby union: DEL OF A FINISH

GLOUCESTER'S Ludovic Mercier clinched victory with the final kick of the game to rub bitter salt into Newcastle's wounds.

Rob Andrews' men led from 15 minutes in, until five minutes into injury time when a superb corner-flag try from Gloucester full-back Thinus Delport levelled the score at 23-23.

But for 91 minutes last week's Powergen Cup glory at Twickenham seemed to fade into the distant annals of Gloucester's history as Newcastle's defence shut them out - only to be resurrected with Mercier's magnificent conversion.

The French kicker emerged from the changing rooms to throw his socks and shorts to the army of jubilant home fans congregated in front of the stands to praise their redeemer.

And if controversy overshadowed last year's Kingsholm fixture - after Tongan flanker Epi Taione claimed Gloucester's Olivier Azam racially abused him - this game will be remembered for similar reasons.

Tempers flared once more after Taione's high tackle on Gloucester skipper Jake Boer on 26 minutes.

Moments later both packs were in a mass brawl before Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey and Falcons lock Stuart Grimes were sent off.

Meanwhile the man Kingsholm loves to hate, Rob Andrews, was twice ushered to his seat in the dug-out by match officials after rising to crowd provocation.

Beaten on their last two outings against the Cherry and Whites, the Falcons again found themselves seeking revenge. And with the half- time score 15-0 to the visitors, it looked like the Falcon's day.

Veteran Springbok lock Mark Andrews stole the show with a 40- metre break from a cheeky interception to set up Falcons scrum-half James Grindal for a classic opportunist try five minutes after the break.

And at this stage, with Newcastle 20-0 ahead, the home side looked dead in the water.

Mercier opened Gloucester's account with a penalty on 53 minutes but the game seemed out of his side's grasp as the Falcons poured forward.

The home side followed this with a well worked corner-flag touchdown from flanker Andy Hazell - Gloucester's best player - after gathering a 20-metre pass from fly half Mercier who failed to convert on 66 minutes.

Just 10 minutes later prop Trevor Woodman re-energised the Kingsholm crowd when he danced over for Gloucester's second try after appearing in the centre and scooping a long pass from scrum-half Andy Gomarsall.

Then came Delport's leveller after a sustained period of heavy Gloucester pressure. Having roared their side forward to unlock the Newcastle defence, the crowd then fell silent for Mercier's kick, before erupting in jubilation as ref Dave Pearson blew the final whistle to signal a fantastic last-gasp win.

But it had come after a dismal first-half display by Gloucester, which had allowed the Falcons to completely dominate.

Newcastle full back Joe Shaw opened the scoring 15 minutes in with a delightful try after quick hands from centre Mark Mayerhofler, but Wilkinson failed to convert.

And it was Mayerhofler who went over on 36 minutes after good work from winger Tom May whose tacking run severed Gloucester's bedraggled defence.

Having slotted a penalty on 19 minutes, England ace Johnny Wilkinson duly converted.

But although Newcastle produced the better rugby it was to no avail as Mercier ripped victory mercilessly from their grasp with that kick.GLOUCESTER Tries: Hazell, Woodman, Delport. Cons: Mercier 2. Pens: Mercier 2.

NEWCASTLE Tries: Shaw, Mayerhofler, Grindal. Cons: J. Wilkinson. Pens: J. Wilkinson 2.

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