European Challenge Cup: Newcastle Falcons 25-10 Brive

Alex Tait crossed for two Newcastle tries in the second half against Brive at Kingston Park

A Toby Flood-inspired Newcastle reached the European Challenge Cup semi-finals as they battled through against a resilient Brive 25-10 at Kingston Park.

Former England fly-half Flood set up three of the Falcons' four tries.

Prop Scott Wilson and winger Zach Kibirige went over in the first half before Etienne Herjean's try brought the visitors back into the tie.

But two Alex Tait tries in the second half came from exquisite Flood passes as Newcastle saw off the Top 14 club.

Newcastle will face the winner of Saturday's quarter-final between Connacht and Gloucester in the semi-finals in April.

Falcons weathered a cagey opening quarter before Wilson crossed for the opening try laid on by his fellow prop Sam Lockwood.

Kibirige was then put into space to cross for the hosts' second and his third try of the competition before Brive made them sweat for long periods as Herjean broke away to close the gap to 12-10.

It took a moment of inspiration on the hour from Flood to break the deadlock when he burst through a gap in Brive's defence and floated a long pass out to Tait on the right wing for a third try.

The same combination worked a fourth score shortly after to put a seal on the victory.

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley; Tait, Harris, Matavesi, Kibirige; Flood, Stuart, Lockwood, Lawson, Wilson, Green, Robinson, Burrows, Welch, Latu.

Replacements: S. Socino, Vickers, Davison, Witty, Chick, Hodgson, Radwan, Penny.

Brive: Laranjeira; Namy, Le Bourhis, Burotu, Galala; Bezy, Cazenave; Brugnaut, Da Ros, Bekoshvili, Snyman, Uys, Hireche (capt), R. Marais, Herjean.

Replacements: Acquier, Leleimalefaga, Johnston, P. Marais, Le Devedec, Lobzhanidze, Mignardi, Romanet.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

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