Newcastle ... 16 London Irish ... 24 Barry Everitt kicked all London Irish's points with six penalties and two drop goals as Newcastle produced an error-strewn performance to end their recent revival.

Newcastle found themselves 6-0 down in the opening quarter to two Everitt penalties as London Irish made the most of their early chances with Newcastle struggling to hang on to the ball in a couple of promising attacking positions.

But then a couple of powerful runs from Tongan Epi Taione took Newcastle deep into the Irish 22 and Taione took a quick penalty for the ball to be worked wide. Jamie Noon slid in at the corner for the try, which Jonny Wilkinson converted from the touchline.

He then added a 50-metre penalty and another from closer in to give Newcastle a 13-6 lead but then Everitt struck a fine drop goal to make it 13-9 and added a penalty in first-half injury time for 13-12 at the break as Newcastle needlessly ran it out of defence and Wilkinson was caught hanging on in the tackle.

Everitt put London Irish in the lead just after half-time with his fourth successful penalty. However, a Wilkinson penalty edged them back in front at 16-15.

Irish should have scored when Mike Horak surged through the middle but Liam Botham put in a superb tackle.

Referee Robon Goodliffe then reversed a penalty when Nick Makin trampled all over a ruck and Everitt kicked the penalty for 18-16.

Wilkinson was short with a penalty but Newcastle staged a frantic finish with some powerful runs from Taione, Stephenson and Noon. However an 80th-minute drop goal from Everitt as Newcastle again lost the ball in their own half sealed the match.

And then in the seventh minute of injury time, Newcastle capped a miserable day by giving away a silly penalty which Everitt kicked to deprive them of a bonus point.