Chiefs, who go up against Munster Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 in April, had crossed through Patrick Schickerling and Jack Innard but trailed to a 14-man Newcastle side heading into the closing stages, only for Simmonds to punish the hosts after a scrum penalty.

In the United Rugby Championship on Sunday, Marcus Rea and John Andrew notched tries as Ulster Rugby battled to a 12-0 win at Dragons.

The Irish province, who face Stade Toulousain in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, moved level on points with league leaders Leinster Rugby following the success at Rodney Parade.

Sunday’s TOP 14 game saw two Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 sides go head-to-head, with Racing 92, who face Stade Français Paris, triumphing 16-13 at Union Bordeaux-Bègles, who take on Stade Rochelais.

The two sides were locked at 13-13 with seconds remaining after Ben Tameifuna had dotted down for Bordeaux and Juan Imhoff had gone over for Racing, for whom Maxime Machenaud kicked eight points, a tally matched by the hosts' Matéo Garcia.

However, Ben Volavola stepped up to land a match-winning penalty for Racing in the 80th minute, handing table-toppers Bordeaux their first league defeat at Stade Chaban-Delmas this season.

Fly-half Joe Simmonds, who has kicked 28 points in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup, slotted a penalty on 76 minutes to hand Exeter Chiefs a 15-14 victory at Newcastle Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday.