Newcastle (13) 25
Tries: Biggs Cons: Gopperth Pens: Gopperth 6
Gloucester (6) 13
Tries: Taylor Cons: Robinson Pens: Robinson 2
 New Zealander Gopperth was in fine form with the boot
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Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked 20 points as Newcastle moved further away from the Premiership relegation zone with a victory over Gloucester.
The hosts took a 13-6 half-time lead as New Zealander Gopperth landed two penalties, along with a conversion following Tom Biggs' 14th-minute try.
Further Gopperth penalties extended the lead before Gloucester hit back through a 57th-minute try from Tim Taylor.
But Gopperth added two more place kicks as Newcastle secured a much-needed win.
It was only Newcastle's second league victory of the season at Kingston Park, moving them five points clear of Sale in 10th place - although the Sharks have a game in hand.
Gopperth gave the hosts the perfect start with a seventh-minute penalty, although Gloucester spurned a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Lesley Vainikolo's powerful burst set up Charlie Sharples for what looked like a simple try, but the winger inexplicably dropped the ball with no defender in sight.
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606: DEBATE
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And the Falcons capitalised on the mistake after centre Tane Tu'ipulotu was brought down metres from the tryline, but the centre managed to offload for Biggs to touch down, a try converted by Gopperth for a 10-0 lead.
Gloucester fly-half Nicky Robinson reduced the deficit to four points with two penalties on the half hour, but Gopperth extended the advantage a minute before the break with three more points.
The 26-year-old added two further penalties six minutes after the interval, the first for a hand in a ruck and the second from a scrum.
But a mistake from Alex Tait in the 57th minute allowed Gloucester back in the match when Taylor capitalised from a knock-on from the Falcons full-back, touching down a converted score to reduce the deficit to 19-13.
But former Wellington number 10 Gopperth relieved the pressure with a long-range three-pointer and secured the victory with his sixth penalty 11 minutes from time.
Newcastle boss Steve Bates:
"We were competitive, kept the ball well, the pack played well and Jimmy's kicking was outstanding.
"He was really influential - it was not just his goal kicking but also his tactical kicking and, in fact, he could have kicked it more for me.
"The four points is a huge boost and gives us some breathing space."
Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath:
"The players let themselves down.
"Newcastle controlled their possession and took their chances, and we made far too many errors. We coughed the ball up, but Newcastle didn't.
"At 10-6 it was anyone's game, but we let them get away from us."
Newcastle: A. Tait, Williams, Bobo, Tu'ipulotu, Biggs, Gopperth, Young, Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Levi, Sorenson, B. Wilson, Williamson, Afu.
Replacements: Vickerman for Bobo (72), Shiels for Golding (79), Walker for Vickers (75), Swinson for Levi (48), Hudson for Sorenson (55).
Not Used: Ovens, Pilgrim, Catterick.
Gloucester: Burns, Sharples, Simpson-Daniel, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Vainikolo, Robinson, R. Lawson, Wood, S. Lawson, Capdevielle, Attwood, Brown, Buxton, Qera, Eustace.
Replacements: Taylor for Burns (36), May for Simpson-Daniel (72), A. Williams for R. Lawson (61), Dickinson for Wood (41), Dawidiuk for S. Lawson (69), Harden for Capdevielle (69), Bortolami for Brown (65), Satala for Buxton (51).
Att: 4,275
Ref: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU).
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