A mesmerising, length of the field try by replacement Louis Rees-Zammit punctuated a strong Gloucester performance - Val Rapava-Ruskin, Santiago Carreras, Lewis Ludlow and Ollie Thorley the others to cross the whitewash for the two-time Challenge Cup victors.

Newcastle responded with a trio of tries from Adam Radwan, Mateo Carreras and Charlie Maddison.

Fellow round of 16 qualifiers London Irish overcame Heineken Champions Cup opposition in the form of Exeter Chiefs, winning 18-14. Matt Cornish and James Stokes registered on the scoresheet for the 2005-06 Challenge Cup winners.

Pool A hopefuls Worcester Warriors fell to a 29-13 reverse at the hands of Northampton Saints – who drop into the EPCR Challenge Cup after finishing tenth in Heineken Champions Cup Pool A.

Rory Hutchinson, Sam Matavesi, Alex Mitchell and James Fish put the visitors in command, Worcester replying with tries from Rory Sutherland and Ashley Beck.

In the United Rugby Championship, Edinburgh Rugby dropped to a 23-19 defeat at the hands of Ospreys – despite a hat-trick from South African prop Boan Venter for the Scottish side.

Meanwhile, across in the TOP 14, there were wins for Lyon – who qualified from Pool B with four wins from four – and CA Brive.

Gloucester Rugby – who have secured a berth in the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 with a game to spare – handed Newcastle Falcons a 32-22 defeat at Kingston Park on Saturday evening.