Exeter proved too strong for Newcastle, beating them 16-10 in an Aviva Premiership clash at Kingston Park on Saturday.
Home side Newcastle went into this game rooted at the foot of the Aviva Premiership, and in desperate need of a third win of the season.
Exeter had other ideas however, as they came out all guns blazing early on.
The visitors had an early penalty miss from Ignacio Mieres, but were putting considerable pressure on the home rearguard, and indeed had the first try of the game when scrum half Haydn Thomas dived over to give the away side the lead.
Mieres added the conversion, Exeter were looking the better side.
Newcastle needed to find something from somewhere to get back in the match, but just couldn't break through the Exeter defence before the break, and were to fall further behind before the interval when Mieres atoned for his earlier penalty miss, his placed kick leaving the score 10-0 at half time.
The hosts finally got off the mark early in the second period through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty to give them a lifeline, but Mieres responded immediately with a penalty for Exeter.
Gopperth had two penalty chances soon after to put Newcastle back in contention with half hour to play, but spurned both opportunities, the hosts now looked in trouble.
Mieres added what looked like the confirmation drop goal with five minutes remaining for the visitors, but Newcastle made it an edgy last few minutes for Exeter when Tim Swinson dived over with two minutes to play, Gopperth adding the conversion.
However, it was too little too late for Newcastle, who see the gap between them and the rest ever-growing with this latest defeat.
The scorers:
For Newcastle Falcons:
Try: Swinson
Con: Gopperth
Pen: Gopperth
For Exeter Chiefs:
Try: Thomas
Con: Mieres
Pens: Mieres 2
Drop-goal: Mieres
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Greg Goosen, 14 Luke Fielden, 13 Suka Hufanga, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Jeremy Manning, 10 Jimmy Gopperth (c), 9 Jordi Pasqualin, 8 Richard Mayhew 7 Will Welch, 6 Taiasina Tu'ifua, 5 Tim Swinson, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Grant Shiells.
Replacements: 16 Michael Mayhew, 17 Ashley Wells, 18 James Hall, 19 Mark Wilson, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Corne Uys.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Nic Sestaret, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Tom Hayes (c), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Simon Alcott, 17 John Andress, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Chris Bentley, 20 James Phillips, 21 Kevin Barrett, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Josh Tatupu.
Venue: Kingston Park
Referee: Andrew Small
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