Premiership: Exeter 46-17 Newcastle

Jack Nowell got the Chiefs on the board with the first try of the game

England hopefuls Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Thomas Waldrom impressed as Exeter ended a run of four Premiership defeats with victory against Newcastle.

Chiefs picked up a first-half bonus point with four tries from the trio plus a penalty score, with Tom Catterick's penalty in reply.

Ruki Tipuna's score raised Falcons' hopes but Phil Dollman and Haydn Thomas tries ended any comeback thoughts.

Will Welch crossed in the final minute for a visitors' consolation.

Slade landed four conversions and two penalties in his tally of 19 points, before going off having charged down a Simon Hammersley clearance kick.

Another England possibility, Dave Ewers, also showed promise for the hosts.

Having lost narrowly to the Falcons at Kingston Park in October, Chiefs looked more like the side that bossed Northampton, Bath and Saracens before Christmas as they pressed from the start.

Slade slotted Exeter ahead and the England Saxons' stand-off continued to prompt, helping the ball through the hands for a move to the left that Nowell finished neatly for try two.

Catterick's three-pointer put the Falcons on the board but it was only a minor setback for Exeter who extended their lead as Slade first slotted another kick and then pounced on a loose, looping line-out ball to crash over.

Forward power brought Exeter a penalty try as the Falcons scrum wilted and Waldrom's try ensured the hosts headed for the sheds with a comfortable lead.

Falcons tightened up in defence for the second period, and showed their attacking intent when Catterick's kick brought field position that resulted in Tipuna's score from a Chiefs line-out error.

However, normal service resumed when Dollman stepped through after a Nowell break and Thomas followed up soon after from close range.

Welch's late score reduced the Falcons' deficit but it was too little too late for Dean Richards' side.

Exeter: Dollman; Whitten, Nowell, Hill, Jess; Slade, Chudley; Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Francis, Mumm (capt), Welch, Ewers, White, Waldrom.

Replacements: Yeandle, Rimmer, Brown, Lees, Johnson, Thomas, Steenson, McGuigan.

Newcastle: Hammersley; Sinoti, Powell, Socino, Tuilagi; Catterick, Blair; Vickers, Lawson, Orlandi, Green, MacLeod, M Wilson, Welch (capt), Hogg.

Replacements: Hawkins, Irving, S Wilson, Barrow, Mayhew, Tipuna, Tiesi, Tait.

Attendance: 7,218