Jonny Wilkinson converted Tom May's first-half try and added a couple of penalty goals in the opening hour, but the plucky Irish province kept in touch through a Conor O'Loughlin try and the boot of fly-half Andy Dunne.

Dunne dropped a goal to level the scores at 13-all, and kept his cool to kick a penalty goal in the dying minutes to seal a hard-fought victory. The Falcons are still odds-on to top the pool, but have crucial games against Brive and a return match against Connacht to come.

Connacht (7) 16
Try: O'Laughlin
Con: Dunne
Pen: Dunne (2)
Drop: Dunne

Newcastle (10) 13
Try: May
Con: Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (2)

Connacht Rugby: G Duffy; A Wynne, D Yapp, M Deane, O Treviranus; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris, M Swift, A Farley (capt), M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Muldoon.

Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, D Gannon, R Ofisa, C McPhillips, T Donnelly, M Mostyn.

Newcastle Falcons: M Tait; T May, J Noon, T Flood, J Rudd; J Wilkinson, H Charlton; J McDonnell, A Long, C Hayman, G Parling, M Sorensen, B Wilson, B Woods, P Dowson (capt).

Replacements: M Thompson, M Ward, S Tomes, R Winter, L Dickson, S Jones, T Visser.

Referee: Franck Maciello (France)