Challenge Cup: Bucuresti 10-52 Newcastle Falcons

Alex Tait scored his first try since signing a new contract with Newcastle Falcons

Bucuresti: (10) 10
Tries: Dascalu Cons: Statulescu Pens: Statulescu
Newcastle: (28) 52
Tries: Vickers 2, Socino 2, Tait 2, Davies, penalty try Cons: Catterick 6

Newcastle Falcons scored eight tries against Bucuresti in Romania as they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

The Falcons had a bonus point secured by half-time through Rob Vickers, Pablo Socino, Alex Tait and a penalty try.

Prop Vickers doubled his tally before Tait, who did likewise.

Socino became the third Falcons player to complete a brace, with replacement Andy Davies finishing the scoring.

The Falcons went into the game knowing that a bonus-point victory would guarantee them a quarter-final spot and it took them just over half an hour to effectively do just that.

Simple hands saw Vickers open the scoring, quickly followed by the ubiquitous Socino, who was on hand to touch down following Mark Wilson's break.

Tait crossed the whitewash to help celebrate his new contract before the visitors were awarded a penalty try, fly-half Tom Catterick adding four conversions.

In the second half, Newcastle took advantage of a tiring home side to put some gloss on the result, with Vickers, Socino and Tait all scoring again, before replacement scrum-half Davies's late try nudged them over the half-century mark.

Bucuresti: Botezatu; Apostol, Dascalu, Gal, Neagu; Statulescu, Diaconescu; Tamba, Turashvili (capt) Badalicescu; Neacsu, Tatu; Van Heerden, Morrell, Ene.

Replacements: Oancea, Pristavita, Vasiliu, Ageacai, Dico, Surugiu, Niacsu, Ilie.

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley; Tait, Powell, Socino, Smith; Catterick, Tipuna; Vickers, Lawson, Brookes; Green, Thompson; Mayhew, Welch (capt), Wilson.

Replacements: Hawkins, Fry, Rogers, Robinson, Saull, Davies, Clegg, Penny.