Wilkinson’s arrival not enough to save Newcastle

NOT even the half-time introduction of Jonny Wilkinson could save Newcastle from being dumped out of the Powergen Cup by Saracens 22-20 at Vicarage Road yesterday.

The England fly-half, continuing his comeback from injury, inspired a spirited second-half fightback from the Falcons only to see the defence of their trophy go up in flames.

Newcastle had battled back from 17-5 down at half-time to within two points of Saracens.

But there was to be no repeat of the heroics which won England the World Cup or Newcastle the corresponding league fixture earlier in the season as Wilkinson sent two late drop-goal attempts wide.

Also yesterday, Wasps beat Bristol 43-33 after extra-time and a consistent kicking display by Mark van Gisbergen helped the European champions see off the Division One leaders Bristol in an epic Powergen Cup tie.

The full-back’s 23 points proved vital as Lawrence Dallaglio and co booked a place in the last eight, leaving the Shoguns to concentrate on regaining their place in the Zurich Premiership. There was no repeat of last year’s giant-killing Powergen Cup display by Pertemps Bees as they slumped to a heavy defeat to Leeds Tykes at Headingley.

The Bees, who produced last year’s biggest upset by dispatching Wasps, saw Leeds run in 13 tries in the 81-17 rout of the National League One side.

Elsewhere Gloucester booked their place in the Powergen Cup quarter-finals with a 20-13 victory over Leicester.

A penalty try and a touchdown from Nathan Mauger in the space of two second-half minutes put the Kingsholm club in the driving seat. Leicester’s only score came from winger Tom Varndell, who pick-pocketed Marcel Garvey and Jon Goodridge in the first half to establish a lead Leicester could not hold.

Harlequins crashed out of the competition at the first hurdle with a comprehensive 33-7 defeat by Bath, guaranteeing a bleak end to the year for the Twickenham club.

Andrew Higgins, Lee Mears and Tom Cheeseman crossed for Bath while Olly Barkley - playing at centre - booted 18 points on the way to outplaying England rival and opposite number Will Greenwood.

Bath were dealt a blow in the build-up to the match when scrum-half Martyn Wood broke down with a hamstring injury during a fitness test. He will be out for between six and seven weeks.

Northampton saw off Bedford 41-8 in a hotly-contested local derby in which they only pulled away from the National One side in the final quarter of the game.

But their first win over an English side since early September saw them safely into the draw after two tries from Jon Clarke and one each from John Rudd, Mark Tucker, Wylie Human and Grant Seely.

London Irish battled into the quarter-finals with a 9-7 victory over Worcester as Mike Catt’s 79th minute drop goal proved enough to see off the Warriors.