NEWCASTLE ensured a season tinged with tragedy would have a glorious silver lining as they edged out Sale Sharks to win one of the most dramatic Powergen Cup finals in the competition's 33-year history.

The Falcons led for just 19 minutes of the most topsy-turvy of Twickenham encounters that saw the lead change an incredible six times.

But, after looking down and out when Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson converted a 74th-minute penalty to open up a three-point lead, Rob Andrew's side summoned their strength for one last assault that saw replacement flanker Phil Dowson crash over.

The win secures Newcastle's second Powergen Cup in the last four seasons and also books their spot in next year's prestigious Heineken Cup but, perhaps more importantly, it ensures this season will remembered as much for success on the field as sadness off it.

Newcastle has been something of a club under a cloud ever since the tragic death of Tongan flanker Soa Otuvaka last month at the tender age of 25.

The former Falcon died of a brain tumour and his passing away had a profound effect on the team-mates he left behind at Kingston Park.

All week they had talked of honouring his memory with a rip-roaring display at Twickenham and, on Saturday, they provided the most fitting testament imaginable to a player who will not be forgotten in the North-East.

The win also silenced the critics who had been suggesting that Newcastle could not function without World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson was there at the weekend - in the role of the most famous water-carrier since Aquarius - but, with his shoulder injury preventing him from playing, Newcastle's supposed lesser lights showed just how brightly they were able to shine.

Players like Dave Walder who slotted into Wilkinson's role at number ten with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of finesse.

And players like skipper Hugh Vyvyan who will now leave the Falcons for Saracens after producing the performance of his life when it mattered most.

"We've had a rough time of it," admitted director of rugby Andrew. "We didn't know when, or if, Jonny or Mark Andrews were going to be back and that affected us.

"I think the turning point was the quarter-final win against London Irish because we suddenly realised that, if we were going to win anything, it was going to be the cup and it was going to be with this group of 22 players.

"We've stopped worrying about when other players were going to play and the focus has been on this group of players achieving something. Now they have."

Not that Newcastle did things the easy way though. Their previous cup final success in 2001 had been dramatic enough with Walder's injury-time try clinching a three-point win over Harlequins.

But, if anything, Saturday's win was even more heart-stopping as Newcastle's backline traded blows with a Sale side readily acknowledged as one of the most expansive in the English game.

Sir Clive Woodward might have espoused a more open running game during his time in charge of the English national side, but this final showed that a willingness to play attractive, free-flowing rugby is also permeating throughout the club environment.

The 70 points scored were the highest ever in a domestic cup final and, with the Falcons and Sale coming together to produce the first all-Northern final since 1977, there are signs that the power base of the domestic game could finally be starting to shift.

"It was a great cup final," said Andrew. "The game went exactly how you would have scripted it and it was almost a case of whoever had the lead when the music stopped would take the cup away.

"We've said many times that we're not exactly where we want the club to be, but qualifying for Europe is a big boost for us."

A flaming burger van had resulted in an early-morning evacuation of Twickenham, but the most powerful explosions were felt on the pitch as the Falcons enjoyed the best start possible.

Jason Robinson's reckless early pass allowed Newcastle to camp themselves in the Sale 22 and they got their reward in the seventh minute when South African forward Warren Britz twisted over after Jamie Noon had been held up close to the line.

Noon's line-breaking runs were a feature of Newcastle's attacking play all afternoon but Sale had willing runners of their own and, after Hodgson had reduced the arrears with a penalty, the Manchester side edged in front when Steve Hanley touched down following an inspired break from hooker Andy Titterrell.

Walder kicked his first penalty after Sale were forced into some desperate defending by the vision of Mark Mayerhofler and Joe Shaw, but Hodgson's 33rd-minute penalty meant the Falcons found themselves trailing by three points at the break.

That deficit didn't last long though, as Vyvyan drove over for the first of four tries in just 14 minutes as the game see-sawed from one end of the field to the other.

Noon and Michael Stephenson were held up at opposite corners of the field but, with Sale regrouping, the Falcons skipper capitalised from close range.

Sale regained the lead when flying winger Mark Cueto led the Falcons a merry dance from 30 yards out and, with Hodgson adding both a penalty and a conversion, Newcastle trailed 23-17.

But they responded with the try of the game to put their noses in front again just three minutes later. Walder's vision was the key as he looped around Mayerhofler to work the perfect angle for full-back Shaw to go crashing between the posts.

Shaw then showed his ability at the other end of the pitch with a crashing tackle to halt the rampaging Robinson but, from the ensuing scrum, Chris Mayor was given the easiest of tasks as Newcastle's defence parted.

Suddenly the Falcons were six points in arrears but, after making a rare mistake when putting an eminently kickable penalty dead, Walder tied things up by converting two penalties with Wilkinson-esque accuracy.

Hodgson showed equal nerve at the other end to put Sale back in front, but the grandstand finale was still to come.

Vyvyan summoned up one last ounce of energy to charge down Hodgson's desperate clearance and, from the resultant scrum, Dowson surged over to score.

Result: Newcastle Falcons 37 Sale Sharks 33.