NEWCASTLE Falcons can look forward to a second round match against Castres after hanging on for a highly-encouraging win in the first leg of Saturday night's Parker Pen European Challenge Cup tie.

They will face Grenoble at home next Sunday with confidence after recording a rare win for an English club in France. Grenoble elected to play against a strong wind and found themselves 19-5 down at half-time.

The Falcons' lead was not enough for comfort, but heroic defence, led by skipper Jonny Wilkinson, restricted the hosts to one second half try.

Wilkinson's brother, Mark, had a good game at full back, while the decision to play Hugh Vyvyan in his old position at No 8 also paid off, especially as young Craig Hamilton did well in Vyvyan's normal position at lock.

Front row men Marius Hurter and Steve Brotherstone made their experience count and led the line-out drive which produced Falcons' only try after 27 minutes.

Wilkinson converted from the touchline to add to his four penalties for a 19-5 lead, but Hurter was sin-binned three minutes later and Newcastle had a lucky let-off at the end of the first half.

Jimmy Isaacson, deputising for Hurter, went off with a leg injury, forcing Newcastle to send on reserve hooker Nick Makin just as they faced a scrum near their own line.

As Makin was out of position at prop, the referee ruled that the scrum had to be uncontested, allowing the Falcons to clear a dangerous situation.

With the wind behind them, Grenoble stepped up the pressure straight after half-time, but they had to wait until the 72nd minute for their only try.

The result did not go down well with the home fans and the referee had to be escorted from the field by stewards.

Result: Grenoble 12 Newcastle Falcons 19.