Hodgson's last-gasp penalty steers Newcastle to thrilling win over Gloucester

Newcastle Falcons 16-14 Gloucester Rugby, Kingston Park
Scorecard

Joel Hodgson scored the decisive penalty kick in the final minute as Newcastle Falcons edged out Gloucester Rugby with a 16-14 win in their Aviva Premiership clash at Kingston Park on Friday.

After the first quarter went without a point, centre Juan Pablo Socino got Newcastle Falcons off the mark with a try in the 22nd minute and Mike Delany added the conversion.

Jonny May helped Gloucester level the scores when he crossed over at the stroke of half time followed by a conversion from fly half Billy Twelvetrees as the honours were even in the first half.

Hodgson took over the kicking responsibility from Delany in the second half and immediately started with a penalty kick in the 46th minute but the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game with a try from Tom Marshall and a conversion from Twelvetrees.

Gloucester had a slender four point lead as the game entered the final quarter. With his second penalty kick in the 65th minute, Hodgson brought down the gap to one point following which Gloucester suffered a setback with a sin bin to Lloyd Evans. But it was Hodgson, who held his nerve brilliantly to deliver the final penalty kick in the 80th minute to ensure a two point win for Newcastle Falcons.