Premiership: Newcastle Falcons 9-15 Exeter Chiefs - Champions back up to second

Exeter's former Wales and Lions winger Alex Cuthbert scored a try for the first time since 24 November 2018 as he returned from a four-month injury lay-off

Champions Exeter moved up to second place in the Premiership with victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park.

Sam Simmonds scored the only try of a close first half as Exeter's usually reliable line-out drive from close range failed them a number of times.

Alex Cuthbert powered over 10 minutes after the break on just his second Exeter start since the end of August.

Having kicked two first-half penalties, Joel Hodgson kicked a third with 20 minutes to go for a losing bonus point.

The win was the third time in eight Premiership games this season that Exeter have not conceded a try and keeps Newcastle in seventh place after a third loss in four games.

Newcastle started well, intercepting two Exeter line-outs inside 10 metres early on before forcing a penalty that full-back Hodgson landed.

Chiefs had Richard Capstick held up in the 15th minute as they tried to drive over having won their third close-range line-out, but Simmonds scored from the resulting scrum.

It was his ninth try in nine Premiership games this season and puts him one behind Thomas Waldrom's club record of 41 Premiership tries overall.

Exeter could have been further ahead midway through the half when former Falcon Will Witty was tackled a metre from the right corner by Gareth Owen after a series of flowing passing moves before Joe Simmonds added a penalty.

Cuthbert - making just his fourth Exeter appearance in 15 months after a series of injuries - put daylight between the sides as Sam Skinner charged down Louis Schreuder's box kick, and two long passes later it was in the hands of the Welsh winger who powered in past two opponents on the right flank.

Newcastle: Hodgson; Wacokecoke, Orlando, Owen, Stevenson; Connon, Schreuder; Davison, McGuigan, Mulipola, Peterson, Fuser, Robinson (capt), Hardie, van der Walt

Replacements: Blamire, Cooper, Tampin, Barry, Collett, Stuart, Tait, Vuna

Exeter: Cordero; Cuthbert, Ian Whitten, Devoto, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Street, Witty, Skinner, Ewers, Capstick, S Simmonds

Replacements: Innard, Kenny, Van Dyk, Armand, Lonsdale, Townsend, Skinner, Hendrickson

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU).

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