Convincing defence and the ability to convert some, if not all, possession into tries allowed Gloucester an impressive victory over a muted Newcastle. But it still left Nigel Melville disappointed. 'We have to be happy beating a team that had won three out of three,' he said. 'But we're disappointed not to gain the bonus point for the fourth try. Jake [Boer, Gloucester's captain] dropped the ball over the line.'

Gloucester's director of rugby is conscious that Sale top the Premiership courtesy of their own extra point following their demolition of Worcester on Friday, but he must be happy that it is only his side, along with the Sharks, who remain unbeaten this season.

A grey and drizzly sky greeted the record 13,000 crowd at newly developed Kingsholm. Before the teams got intimate, Jonny Wilkinson was out warming up his catching and kicking limbs and as he ran the width of the pitch was clapped by the Shed, a rare gesture afforded visiting players in these parts. They may have been applauding the next England captain.

This was the fly-half's fourth competitive game since his return from injury, but it was opposite number Duncan McRae who pinned the visitors back inside their 22 early on. From the resulting line-out, the ball was moved through two phases before it went sideways and from an infringement, Henry Paul opened the home side's account after nine minutes.

Much of the ball was being fought for around the halfway mark and when the opening try came it was from just inside Gloucester's half. After Falcons' full-back Matt Burke had held on, Andy Gomarsall quickly took a tap penalty, gained 10 yards for Newcastle not retreating, took it with haste again and then kicked over the top. Burke was out of position and Marcel Garvey, flying through from the right wing, collected and scored an easy try that Paul converted.

Gloucester then took hold of the game. A line-out right on the Falcons' line was taken by Adam Balding and from the driving maul, Alex Brown scored his side's second try, though Paul failed to convert. Three regulation Wilkinson penalties answered by two from Paul kept Gloucester's advantage comfortable, but they will have gone into the break disappointed not to have scored a least another try - with Boer the obvious culprit for his spill from replacement Mathew Tait's tackle.

Rob Andrew brought on Andy Long, Colin Charvis and James Isaacson in an attempt to ensure it was his side who registered the vital next score. 'We didn't play like we did at Bath,' he said. 'We weren't allowed to. But if we could only have scored a try, we could have threatened them.'

When Wilkinson added his fourth penalty a minute before the hour, his side were just nine points behind, but as the game entered the final quarter, Newcastle could not turn possession into profit.

Wilkinson, disappointing all afternoon, saw a pass intercepted by James Simpson-Daniel, who ran 35 metres to cross Newcastle's line for the third time. Paul converted and suddenly the bonus point for one more try beckoned. It was, though, the visitors who scored next. Stephenson ran through from half way for a consolation, but Wilkinson's conversion hit the post. 'It wasn't easy for him,' added Andrew. 'But he's fine. He's working his way back in and is pleased with how it is going.'

Gloucester: Goodridge; Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel; McRae, Gomarsall; Wood, Azam (Fortey 58), Sigley, Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Boer, Balding (Eustace 50).

Newcastle: Burke; May, Noon, Shaw (Tait 24), Stephenson; Wilkinson, Grindal (Charlton 55); Peel (Isaacson ht), Thompson (Long, ht), Hurter (Peel 63), Grimes, Gross (Hamilton 75), Setiti, McCarthy (Charvis ht), Dowson.

Referee A Rowden.

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