Source: Eurosport
Thomas pegs back Falcons
Newcastle had to settle for a second successive draw at the start of the new Guinness Premiership season as two late Lee Thomas penalties earned Sale 16-16 share of the spoils at Kingston Park.
The 25-year-old kicked three penalties in total and converted Mark Cueto's fantastic try, which he helped to create with a beautifully placed chip.
Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked 11 points for the hosts, although he also missed two kickable penalties, while centre Rob Vickerman scored his first try for the Falcons after Sharks flanker Neil Briggs knocked the ball into his hands as he attempted to ground the ball behind his own try line.
The Falcons had made three changes to the side that drew 9-9 at Leeds, as Charlie Amesbury replaced the injured Danny Williams on the wing, Samoa international Filipo Levi made his Premiership debut at number eight and Ed Williamson came in on the blindside flank.
Sale moved Thomas to fly-half due to Charlie Hodgson's stubbed toe, with England star Mathew Tait coming into midfield. British and Irish Lions prop Andrew Sheridan was handed his first start of the season.
Despite Sheridan's presence, Newcastle enjoyed the better of the opening forward exchanges and the pressure eventually told as New Zealander Gopperth knocked over two penalties in quick succession for deliberate knock-ons by Thomas and flanker James Gaskell, with the latter harshly being sent to the sin-bin for his troubles in the 16th minute.
Thomas got the visitors on the board with a penalty of his own on a rare Sale foray into the Falcons half and then created a wonderful try against the run of play in the 24th minute, placing a delicate chip in behind the home defence for England wing Cueto to claim the bouncing ball, beat Tom Biggs and Alex Tait and race 30 metres to score. Welshman Thomas added the conversion with the help of the left-hand upright to put the Sharks 10-6 up.
Gopperth kicked his third penalty to narrow the lead to one point before Newcastle were gifted a try by Briggs's error, which Vickerman grateful capitalised on and Gopperth added the extras.
Gopperth and Thomas missed a penalty apiece as the game tightened up entering the final quarter, a change of pace which appeared to suit the Sharks as they made plenty of headway through mauling from their line-outs and a series of pick and drives.
The Falcons began to lose their discipline and Thomas' second penalty trimmed the lead to 16-13 before the hosts were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, allowing the former Cardiff man to tie the scores with just seven minutes remaining.
