Newcastle Falcons ended their Gallagher Premiership win-less streak on Friday night when the Kingston Park faithful roared them past Exeter Chiefs.

The Falcons led 14-11 at half-time but the visitors made the early headway and were a try to the good inside four minutes when England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored in the right corner from Josh Hodge’s outside break and pass.

Newcastle bounced back with a spell of territory and possession, and a string of red-zone penalties eventually drew a try when the TMO awarded Philip van der Walt a score when the big South African surged over from a close-range pick and go.

Ethan Grayson’s conversion put the home side two points to the good, but the lead lasted less than two minutes as former Falcon Hodge blasted over a 40-metre penalty from in front.

The full-back repeated the trick from similar range five minutes later to extend the visitors’ advantage, but Newcastle hit back and scored their second try when hooker Jamie Blamire ploughed over from a tap penalty.

Grayson’s conversion put the home side up by three on the half-hour, and the Falcons were fronting up in defence, too, as Blamire won a jackal penalty inside his own 22 from an Exeter attack.

Chiefs were reduced to 14 men for ten minutes when flanker Richard Capstick saw yellow for persistent offending, and were happy to end the half three points down as Newcastle began to exert some territorial dominance.

The Falcons carried their momentum into the opening exchanges of the second half with a barrage of penalties in their favour, but the Devonians’ defensive line-out was making life difficult as the margin remained at three.

That finally changed on 55 minutes when the decision to turn down the kickable three was vindicated, Ethan Grayson finding a brilliant touch and Blamire rumbling over from a maul in the left corner.

Grayson sent over the conversion to lead by ten, and Hodge fired wide in reply as Exeter chanced their arm by attempting a shot at goal from inside their own half.

Astute game management from Grayson pinned Chiefs inside their own 22 with a chip to coffin corner, and after 20 patient phases the stand-off slotted back into the pocket and sent over a well-judged drop-goal to build a 13-point buffer.

Hodge brought late drama with a converted try in the left corner, but the Falcons held their nerve to close out a precious result.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Sammy Arnold (Cameron Hutchison, 70), 11 Ben Stevenson (Alex Hearle, 70), 10 Ethan Grayson, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank (Luan de Bruin, 70), 2 Jamie Blamire (Ollie Fletcher, 77), 3 Richard Palframan (Murray McCallum, 70), 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 John Hawkins, 6 Philip van der Walt (Freddie Lockwood, 78), 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Callum Chick (captain).

Scorers – Tries: Philip van der Walt, Jamie Blamire 2. Conversions: Ethan Grayson 3. Drop-goals: Ethan Grayson.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Olly Woodburn, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Sam Maunder; 1 Scott Sio (Kwenzo Blose, 52), 2 Jack Yeandle (captain, Jack Innard, 52), 3 Marcus Street (Josh Iosefa-Scott, 52), 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Franco Molina (Christ Tshiunza, 63), 6 Ethan Roots (Greg Fisilau, 58), 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Ross Vintcent.

Scorers – Tries: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Josh Hodge. Conversions: Josh Hodge. Penalties: Josh Hodge 2.

Referee: Luke Pearce. Attendance: 4,464.