Walder saves Falcons again

Newcastle 18 Gloucester 16

England have never had it so good for quality outside-halves; and Newcastle have two of the best three in the land in Jonny Wilkinson and David Walder. While Clive Woodward has been talking up Charlie Hodgson's abilities, when he next talks to Rob Andrew – assuming they are on speaking terms after their recent spat – Newcastle's director of rugby will no doubt remind him of what a good player Walder is. For the second week running Walder came to Newcastle's rescue in a tight Premiership match. Last week it was Wasps who were made aware of the Walder factor; yesterday it was Gloucester who fell to Walder's boot.

Having been England's outside-half on the summer tour to the United States and Canada, it would only have been natural had Walder felt slighted to be overlooked by the England coach, who chose Hodgson ahead of him for Saturday's game against Romania. "Fair play to Charlie, it's been his weekend," acknowledged the unassuming Walder. "I've got to keep going and try and get myself back in the frame."

He was in the right frame of mind all right in a match as tight as a drum, which pounded to a tremendous finish as the Falcons' forwards, who had been under the cosh for most of the game, raised themselves to stop Gloucester snatching the points and relieving them of their undefeated home record and second place.

Had it not been for Walder, Newcastle would have been in even more trouble in the first half, when they kicked away far too much possession and were unable to break down an implacable Gloucester defence. Whenever Newcastle took it up the middle Jake Boer and Junior Paramore wrapped up the ball carrier. If they went wide, Robert Todd and Joe Ewens, proved unbreakable as the last line of defence. Mercifully for the Falcons, Ludovic Mercier proved fallible and though the Premiership's leading scorer kicked the conversion of Andy Gomarsall's 18th-minute try and slotted two penalties, three other penalty attempts sailed wide.

Henry Paul took a shot at goal soon after the restart, but that went astray, before Mercier took Gloucester 16-12 ahead with his third penalty. But it was Walder with the final and decisive say. Three penalties in each half, three of his total from more than 50 metres, another from 48, and he did not miss until near the close, by when Gloucester had all but accepted the inevitable.

Newcastle: Penalties Walder 6. Gloucester: Try Gomarsall; Conversion Mercier; Penalties Mercier 3

Newcastle: D Richardson (P Dowson 75); V Tuigamala, J Noon, T May, G Maclure; D Walder, H Charlton (G Armstrong, 61); M Ward, N Makin (C Balshen, 56), M Hurter, H Vyvyan, D Weir (C Hamilton, 46), J Dunbar (E Taione, 68), R Arnold (R Devonshire, 46), P Lam (capt).

Gloucester: R Todd; D O' Leary, T Fanolua, H Paul, J Ewens; L Mercier, A Gomarsall (D Yachvili, 63); T Woodman (A Deacon, 52-61), C Fortey (O Azam, 59), F Pucciariello, R Fidler, M Cornwell, J Boer (capt), A Eustace (K Sewabu, 78), J Paramore.

Referee: J Barnard (Driffield, East Yorkshire).

* Northampton crumbled to a 48-12 defeat at London Irish. The visitors avoided total humiliation with a late rally with saw Craig Moir and Peter Jorgensen touch down in the last 10 minutes after Northampton trailed 48-0. The side have slipped to 11th in the Zurich Premiership.

* Bath returned to the bottom of the Premiership after a 31-17 defeat at Bristol. Without their inspirational fly-half Mike Catt, they crashed to their sixth league defeat from eight starts, and were never in contention. Tries from half-backs Gareth Cooper and Olly Barkley provided scant consolation as Bath missed the presence of seven internationals.

* The Scottish international winger, Kenny Logan, returned from injury to score two tries for Wasps as they beat Leeds 64-14 at Loftus Road. Alex King was man of the match, with six conversions, four penalties and a drop goal. The Leeds coach, Phil Davies, said it was his side's "worst performance of the season''.