Wilkinson lights Newcastle escape route

For a group of men tunneling their way to freedom out of a wartime prison, the final yard to herald daylight is the most joyous. For 80 minutes, Newcastle were in the darkest and seemingly longest tunnel. The break-out, when it came with Hugh Vyvyan's try and Jonny Wilkinson's nerveless conversion from the right touchline in stoppage time, brought applause so noisy it will have been heard in Durham.

Much as it means to Rob Andrew's Falcons, lifting them from bottom to eighth in the table with two matches remaining, it would be as well not to engage any one from the East Midlands wearing green and gold, in a conversation about matches they should have won. Northampton had the game all-but sown up by the end of a dominant first half. And yet they contrived to throw it away by making almost as many mistakes as Newcastle did before the break. Given that Saints had an agenda of their own which includes a Heineken Cup place next season, their profligacy was unforgivable, leading their head coach, Wayne Smith, to say: "We're going to bring out a book on how to lose matches we've already won."

However, the idea that Newcastle were handed victory is false. Having shipped three tries, as Northampton dominated territory and possession, Newcastle were looking for ways to keep the score respectable. Had it not been for Wilkinson's first four penalties, they might never have set foot in the escape tunnel. They allowed Matt Dawson to score two soft tries and then, when Wilkinson had brought the Falcons to within a point at the end of the half, James Grindal fumbled, for Darren Fox to grab the loose ball for Saints' third try. Paul Grayson's conversion made it 20-12.

Even with Fox in the sin-bin, Saints were able to keep the pressure on and Ben Cohen and Peter Jorgensen crossed but were unable to ground the ball. As Andrew acknowledged afterwards: "If either of those had gone in, it would have been the end of us. But our defence was magnificent."

So was Northampton's. But Newcastle stretched them to breaking point for Vyvyan to cross. After the cheering died on the wind, there was still time for Northampton to save the game, but Grayson's 57-metre penalty hit an upright and Newcastle could savour the daylight.

Newcastle: Try Vyvyan; Conversions Wilkinson; Penalties Wilkinson 5. Northampton: Tries Dawson 2, Fox Conversion Grayson Penalty Grayson.

Newcastle: J Shaw (D Walder, 64); T May, J Noon, M Mayerhofler, M Stephenson; J Wilkinson (capt), J Grindal (H Charlton, 66); I Peel (M Ward, 16-29), N Makin, M Hurter, C Hamilton, S Grimes, C Newby, A Mower, H Vyvyan.

Northampton: N Beal; O Ripol (B Reihana, 52), P Jorgensen, M Tucker, B Cohen; P Grayson, M Dawson; T Smith, S Thompson, R Morris (M Stewart, 49; Morris, 73-76), M Lord, M Connors (R Hunter, 69), D Fox (G Seely, 69), B Pountney (capt), A Blowers.

Referee: S Lander (Warrington).