Newcastle Falcons finally snapped their 25-game losing streak with a hard-fought victory over Exeter Chiefs, winning 24-18 at Kingston Park. The home crowd, who had waited 19 months for a win, cheered as Falcons capitalized on Exeter’s error-filled performance to secure the much-needed triumph.
Jamie Blamire scored two tries, while Philip van der Walt added another. Ethan Grayson contributed with two conversions and a crucial drop goal, sealing the win. Exeter initially led with a try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, but as the game progressed, penalties and mistakes plagued the Chiefs, allowing Falcons to build momentum. Despite late pressure, including a try from Josh Hodge, Exeter couldn’t close the gap.
Exeter remain winless this season, sitting just above Newcastle at the bottom of the table thanks to bonus points, but their discipline issues—13 penalties conceded—proved costly. Blamire’s second try and Grayson’s drop goal gave Newcastle enough cushion, while Exeter’s late push faltered due to a knock-on, sealing Newcastle’s first victory since March 2023.
Newcastle head coach Steve Diamond expressed relief, describing the win as a “monkey off the club’s back,” while Exeter’s Rob Baxter lamented his team’s inconsistency, describing them as a “Jekyll and Hyde team.”
