Contrasting wins for Edinburgh, Newcastle

Edinburgh claimed an impressive 15-13 away win over Bordeaux-Begles and Newcastle Falcons beat Bucharest Wolves 43-19 in the evening's European Rugby Challenge Cup matches.

While Aviva Premiership side Newcastle claimed a comfortable bonus-point win against their Romanian opponents, Pro12 strugglers Edinburgh came from behind to beat Top 14 outfit Bordeaux, who missed a late drop goal.

Tom Heathcote kicked a penalty and then converted a penalty try to put Edinburgh ahead in the last 10 minutes and they held on to claim the points.

It was a much more one-sided affair at Kingston Park, where Newcastle ran in seven tries to Bucharest's three.

They raced into a 36-7 lead at half-time and although the Wolves scored a brace of tries themselves in the second half, Newcastle were comfortable winners.

An unremarkable first half at Stade André Moga gave little hint of the drama to follow as the home side led 3-0 at the break thanks to a Lionel Beauxis penalty, landed from 40 metres just two minutes before the half-time whistle.

Soon after the restart, Tim Visser crossed for Edinburgh's first score but just four minutes later Baptiste Serin touched down and Beauxis converted to put the French team 10-5 ahead.

Another Beauxis penalty extended their lead to 13-5 on 58 minutes and when Phil Burleigh was sin-binned for Edinburgh three minutes afterwards, the Scottish side looked to be heading for defeat.

They held out during Burleigh's absence and reduced the arrears through Heathcote's first successful penalty while still down to 14 men.

Sustained pressure saw them awarded a penalty try in the 72nd minute which levelled the scores, and Heathcote converted to put them ahead with seven minutes to go.

The French side then saw both Jean-Blaise Lespinasse and Matthew Graham shown yellow cards, finishing the game with 13 men.

However, despite their numerical disadvantage, they were able to work a position for a last-ditch shot at goal from Pierre Bernard, but he missed the chance and Edinburgh held on to land the first blow in Pool 4 with just a third win in 20 attempts on French soil.

Despite ringing the changes following back-to-back Premiership victories, Newcastle had too much for the visitors to take an early lead in Pool 3.

Bucharest, who defeated Italian side Calvisano over two legs to reach the Challenge Cup, are still searching for their first win over an English side and this was their third straight defeat at the hands of Newcastle.

Debutant Will Witty touched down in the first minute and Newcastle had earned their bonus point by the break thanks to further scores from Lee Smith, Chris Harris, Mark Wilson and a brace from Tom Penny.

Florin Ionita crossed for Bucharest before a couple of tries from Ionuf Botezatu were the product of an improved display in the second half.

David Nelson became Newcastle's sixth try-scorer on the night after Rob Vickers had been sent to the sin-bin as Bucharest outscored their hosts in the second period.