This Leeds outfit are a cussed lot. True to recent form they gave Newcastle almost nothing. They tackled with a ferocity from which the Falcons could find no solace. But a Jonny Wilkinson penalty in the 77th minute looked as if victory would be snatched from them. Then, deep in injury time Andrew Mower was sin-binned, allowing Braam van Straaten to kick what for all the world appeared to be the winning penalty. To unbearable tension in the dying moments of a game which ebbed and flowed with a tidal intensity, Hall Charlton scored a marvellous try in the sixth minute of time allowed, enabling Newcastle to move above Bath off the bottom of the table and keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation. Poor Leeds deserved better, especially as Newcastle's first try came when Tom Palmer was in the sin bin.

From the first whistle Leeds extended the Falcons. Van Straaten struck with his first penalty and then banged over a second before launching a high kick, which he recovered brilliantly, only for Tom Palmer to squander a four-two overlap when his pass went to ground.

It took Newcastle 13 minutes to get their hands on the ball, when Mark Andrews won a line-out, but the resulting movement broke down as Jamie Noon was held in the vice-like Leeds' defence. Even so Newcastle were looking stronger, and would have scored but Wilkinson missed two first half penalties.

For all the Falcons' territorial advantage in the second quarter, Leeds had the comfort of a nine-point interval lead as Van Straaten kicked a stoppage-time penalty.

Newcastle began the second half with the sort of brio Leeds began the first, obliging the Tykes to cling to every man in the tackle. Ultimately, though, they had to give best to Charlton.

Leeds: D Scarbrough; C Hall (G Harder 49), T Davies, B van Straaten, D Albanese; G Ross, A Dickens (S Benton 63); M Shelley (capt), M Regan, G Kerr (D Wheatley 78), C Murphy, T Palmer, C Mather, D Hyde, I Feaunati (A Popham 78).

Newcastle: J Shaw; L Botham, J Noon, T May, M Stephenson; J Wilkinson (capt), J Grindal (H Charlton h-t); I Peel, N Makin (M Thompson 57), M Hurter, M Andrews (C Hamilton h-t), S Grimes, E Taione, A Mower, H Vyvyan.

Referee: C White (Cheltenham).

* Four Premiership players have been cited for alleged foul play after the latest round of matches. They are Tim Horan, of Saracens, Gloucester's Robert Todd, Sale Sharks' Kevin Yates, and Ace Tiatia, of Harlequins, for foul play during Quins' defeat against Newcastle.