THE good news for England was that Jonny Wilkinson came through unscathed at Kingston Park yesterday, but the bad news for Newcastle was that he was upstaged by opposite number Barry Everitt.

The man from Tipperary kicked six penalties and two drop goals to earn only the second Premiership win of the season for London Irish. His last penalty, which was immediately followed by the final whistle, also denied the Falcons a bonus point for keeping the margin down to seven points.

They badly needed to win this game to climb further away from relegation as they now face three games without Wilkinson because of the autumn internationals. If they lose away to bottom club Bristol next week they will be back in trouble.

A further disappointment was that the third home game in successive weeks saw the crowd down to 4,550 and they would not feel inclined to spread the gospel that Premiership rugby provides compelling entertainment.

As Phil Godman is likely to take over as their goal-kicking fly half for the next three weeks, Newcastle handed him the No 10 shirt, although Wilkinson, wearing 13, often popped up at fly half.

With David Walder and Dave Richardson injured, Newcastle have signed Samoan international Earl Va'a for four weeks to provide cover for Godman. Va'a, a former Richmond and Worcester player, has been playing in Wellington recently.

With coach Brendan Venter back in the centre to organise the defence, the Irish were just too well structured and determined for the Falcons to break them down.

Visiting Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea said: "We are in a deep hole and it will take a lot of digging to get out. This was the first shovel."

Jamie Noon was at full back for Newcastle and looked the most threatening attacker, squeezing over in the left corner for the game's only try in the 19th minute

He went on to the wing in the reshuffle which followed Liam Botham's introduction in place of Godman with 20 minutes left, and still managed to look the biggest threat.

Noon wriggled through two tackles in his own half to set up an attack as the game entered injury time, then with his next touch he cut inside from the wing to carry play to the visitors' 22. But Newcastle were penalised for pulling a maul down and Everitt again pinned them back.

Epi Taione failed to make an impact on the other wing, largely because his suspect hands again let him down. He has the size and power to be the equal of Jonah Lomu, but his early promise for the Falcons shows little sign of coming to full fruition.

Newcastle's Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, said: "We made too many mistakes against a side who defended extremely well all over the pitch.

"It ended up being an untidy scrap and a poor defeat. We just couldn't break free of the shackles."

One of the game's best moves came shortly after Everitt gave the Irish a fifth minute lead, with Jon Dunbar sweeping off the back of a line-out before third-phase possession was moved right and Noon went round his marker, only to be brought back for a forward pass.

Everitt made it 6-0, but Newcastle went ahead when a long pass from Tom May gave Noon a glimpse of the left corner. He did well to make it, squeezing the ball down marginally before the tackle took his legs into touch. Wilkinson converted from the touchline, then thumped over a penalty from halfway and added another from 45 metres for a 13-6 lead.

Controversy preceded Everitt's first drop goal as Venter led with his forearm in trying to ride a Dunbar tackle, then clashed heads with the big flanker, who was still laid out when Everitt's kick sailed over.

The fly half then added his third penalty to leave the Falcons 13-12 ahead at half-time.

They lost hooker Steve Brotherstone with a knee injury ten minutes into the second half and he looks certain to pull out of the Scotland squad to play Romania on Saturday.

An exchange of penalties kept the Falcons one point in front, but after 67 minutes Brotherstone's replacement, Nick Makin, was spoken to by the referee for dangerous play at a ruck and Everitt slotted the penalty.

Wilkinson was short from just inside his own half then sliced a kick to touch on his own 22 and after the ensuing line-out Everitt landed a very sweetly-struck left-footed drop goal.

With the gap at five points, Noon's runs gave Newcastle hope of snatching a match-winning try. But this simply wasn't their day.

Result: Newcastle Falcons 16 London Irish 24.