He was not perfect but Jonny Wilkinson appears to have lost nothing while recovering from his latest injury crisis. Looking sharp, inventive and reassuringly strong last night, he formed a back division combination with Mathew Tait and Toby Flood that inspired Newcastle Falcons before a solid second-half comeback from the league leaders Bristol.
It did not take long for Wilkinson to make his presence felt. Matt Burke's break gave the Falcons field position, Wilkinson dropped his left shoulder and popped up a short ball to create space for Flood, and from the ruck the ball was spun left for Tait to cross in the corner.
Wilkinson missed the kick but made amends with a drop-goal, following up with a 52-yard penalty. He then played a part in a move that ended in Flood's pass for Matt Thompson to cross unopposed.
The combination of Wilkinson and Flood worked its magic again before the interval, a perfectly timed short pass from the fly-half freeing his centre, who in turn put Brent Wilson clear to gallop home.
It was a different story after the break, though. A hit by Craig Morgan put Wilkinson on his back, and though he was up on his feet within seconds to kick a penalty he soon found the Bristol forwards starting to exert some control. Lee Robinson's try gave the visitors hope and when Dan Ward-Smith went over Bristol sensed blood, but the Falcons held out.
"With a 10, 12 and 13 of that sort of quality Newcastle were going to do some damage," said Bristol's director of rugby, Richard Hill. "Wilkinson was certainly one of the differences. His presence and drive makes the team tick," said his Falcons opposite number, John Fletcher.
Newcastle Falcons Burke; May, Tait, Flood, Rudd; Wilkinson, Dickson (Grindal, 62); Golding, Thompson (Long, 61), Ward (D Wilson, 44); Perry, McCarthy; Parling, Woods, B Wilson.
Tries Tait, Thompson, B Wilson
Con Wilkinson
Pens Wilkinson 2
Drop-goal Wilkinson
Bristol Morgan; Robinson, Higgitt, Hill, Lemi (Taumalolo, 55); Strange, O'Riordan; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Llewellyn; Budgett, To'oala (El Abd, 47), Ward-Smith.
Tries Robinson, Ward-Smith
Con Strange
Pens Strange 3
Referee W Barnes (Surrey).
Attendance 6,140
