Six tries, two yellow cards, nine successful kicks and umpteen howls of protest from the locals.

Yes, it has been an eventful afternoon of at times breathless entertainment at Kingston Park on sunny, but breezy Tyneside.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle fell just short. And champions Saracens won again. Their 20th straight win over the Falcons, in all competitions.

Same old, same old . . .

Now it's time for everyone to go home now and have a lie down.

Have a good evening.

Saracens are back on home soil next weekend when they host returning Premiership 'new boys' Bristol.

The rebranded Bears began life back in the top flight with the season-opening 17-10 win over neighbours Bath on Friday night.

Newcastle must travel to Welford Road to face Leicester, another side who lost their opening game, well beaten, 40-6, at Exeter.

BBC Radio commentaries will be available on both of those two games - and the rest of the weekend Premiership programme.

All over at Kingston Park.

The scoreline says it's simply another bonus-point victory for Saracens, who were the better side and deserved to win.

But there is consternation in the home ranks about some of the refereeing decisions.

And Newcastle will take a lot from their performance running the champions so close.

Owen Farrell completes the scoring with a last-minute penalty - the final action of a dramatic, exciting game.

Sarries down to nine men.

Now Alex Goode goes off too, to follow Nick Tompkins' yellow card, after Simon Hammersley's attacking run had Sarries all over the shop defensively.

Falcons opt to run the penalty.

Young Cumbrian Adam Brocklebank is on for Newcastle for his Premiership debut in place of Sami Mavinga.

Vincent Koch also comes back on for Sarries. Brad Barritt is also back in the fray after a successful head injury assessment.

Nick Tompkins gets 10 minutes in the bin for connecting with Toby Flood with his elbow. A man advantage for the Falcons at a key stage.

Howls of protest from the home fans, who were baying for a red card. Maybe there will be more said and done on this incident later in the week?

A host of substitutions for the visitors.

Nick Isiewke, Jujan Figallo and Richard Barrington are on for Will Skelton, Mako Vunipola and Vincent Koch.

For the Falcons, Gary Graham is on for Callum Chick following a clash of heads with Brad Barritt, who also goes off. Late stand-in Tom Whiteley comes on. He was only named on the bench because of scrum-half Ben Spencer's late withdrawal from the matchday squad due to illness.

Ticking off for home winger Niki Goneva as referee Ian Tempest reverses his original decision and gives Sarries a penalty instead. Not entirely clear what he did, but it was deemed unacceptable.

Sarries winger David Strettle's return to the club after four years away in France ends prematurely, as far as this afternoon's events are concerned.

He is led off following a bang on the head after a hard fall on the 3G surface, having been tackled by Falcons flanker Callum Chick on the byline.

Nick Tompkins is on to replace him.

And the second half begins . . .

One or two moments to enrage the home fans in that first half but, generally, Sarries are worth their half-time lead.

Can the Falcons find something extra in the second period?

Exciting first 40 minutes on Tyneside. And Toby Flood has kept the hosts in touch with three penalties. But Sarries have scored the two tries.

They finished last season with four successive bonus-point league wins before scoring a further 10 tries in the semi and the final - and It's already looking business as usual for the champions.

This one's for a high tackle. Toby Flood is back on the tee. And over it goes. His third successful kick. Only one point in it now as we approach the break. And the home crowd have really found their voice.

This game is being played at a breathless pace. Newcastle now fight back towards the Sarries line on the back of a Toby Flood penalty to touch.