Newcastle ended a five-match losing run with a five-try hammering of Castres to move into a European Challenge Cup semi-final at Worcester.

It was Newcastle's first win under interim coach Steve Bates.

Slanting snow showers greeted Castres, but it was Newcastle who had to play into the wind in the first half.

After conceding an early penalty to Romain Teulet, the Falcons took a 4-3 lead with a fourth-minute try when Toby Flood surged through from the restart and floated a long pass out to John Rudd - who scored in the corner.

A quick line-out led to a try for lock Iosefa Tekori, who simply ploughed through for a 10th-minute touchdown converted by Teulet.

But Jonny Wilkinson hit back with a penalty two minutes later.

Newcastle lost Ben Woods to the sin bin in the 21st minute for diving in. It looked a harsh decision, but Teulet made it 13-8 with the penalty.

Mathew Tait exploded out of his own 22, and both Rudd and Tom May nearly broke through.

But Castres counter-attacked, and Tait had to move smartly to race back and collect a kick through as Castres number eight Florian Faure joined Woods in the sin-bin for killing the ball.

Another terrific break almost put Jamie Noon through - but with a penalty signalled, Wilkinson calmly dropped a goal and then slotted a 40 metre penalty right on half-time to edge the Falcons 14-13 ahead.

The second half started with Tom Dillon darting down the right wing and prop Carl Hayman piling in to pick up and score in the corner. Wilkinson converted from the touchline.

Then it was Dillon's turn to score when Wilkinson grubber-kicked through and the centre collected and stepped inside to score.

When Teulet's chip ahead was then scooped up by James Grindal there was no one to stop the scrum-half scoring under the posts. Wilkinson made it 33-13 with the conversion.

There was still enough time for Toby Flood to spin out of the tackle and send in Brent Wilson for the fifth try, and Wilkinson duly slotted the extras.

Newcastle (14) 40
Tries: Rudd, Hayman, Dillon, Grindal, Wilson
Con: Wilkinson (3)
Pen: Wilkinson (2)
Drop: Wilkinson

Castres (13) 13
Try: Tekori
Con: Teulet
Pen: Teulet

Newcastle: Tait, May, Noon, Flood, Rudd, Wilkinson, Grindal, Ward, Thompson, Hayman, Perry, Sorenson, Buist, Woods, Dowson (capt)

Replacements: Long, Golding, Wilson, Winter, Charlton, Dillon, Visser

Castres: Teulet, Milford, Mazars, Marticorena, Bourret, McIntyre, Meeuws, Bonello, Ducalcon, Capo-Ortega, Tekori, Vosloo, Tabacco, Senio

Replacements: Terrain, Saayman, Adamou, Tomiki, Jaca, Benassis, Lagardere

Referee: Peter Allan (Sco)