Andrew ready for change as Falcons fall to late Irish try

Newcastle 15 London Irish 16

Newcastle's director of rugby, Rob Andrew, hinted at changes to his squad for next season after this demoralising home loss to the Exiles.

"Our league form has been very disappointing and we will have to do something about that," said Andrew, who is believed to be tracking the Fiji wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Meanwhile, the Samoan No 8 Semo Sititi has already signed and a hooker and a second-row are also required.

Newcastle's 18-year-old wing Matthew Tait scored with his first touch of the ball before the flanker Warren Britz added another try. Barry Everitt's two penalties made it 12-6 at half time. Dave Walder kicked a second half penalty but a Neil Hatley try and Mark Mapletoft's conversion set up the latter's 84th-minute penalty to win the match for Irish.

Newcastle: Tries Tait, Britz; Conversion Walder; Penalty Walder.

London Irish: Try Hatley; Conversion Mapletoft; Penalties Everitt 2, Mapletoft.

Newcastle: M Stephenson; T May, J Noon, M Mayerhofler, M Tait (B Gollings); D Walder, H Charlton (J Grindal); I Peel (M Ward), J Isaacson (M Thompson), M Ward (M Hurter), S Grimes, C Hamilton, P Dowson, W Britz, H Vyvyan (capt; J Dunbar).

London Irish: M Horak; P Sackey, G Appleford (R Hoadley), N Mordt (Appleford), J Bishop; B Everitt (M Mapletoft), D Edwards (K Barrett); D Wheatley (N Hatley), A Flavin (N Drotske), R Hardwick (Wheatley), R Strudwick (capt), N Kennedy, P Gustard (D Danaher), K Dawson, P Murphy.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (Surrey).