Bristol ended their run of four Premiership defeats with a tremendous second-half performance which saw them triumph 33-17 over Newcastle.

The Shoguns, playing their first home Premiership game since early December, went in to the game without their Argentinian international half back pairing of Agustin Pichot, ruled out with a foot injury, and Felipe Contepomi (ankle).

Former Scotland Under-21 scrum-half Ross Blake deputised for Pichot and ex-Queensland Reds fly-half Shane Drahm came in for Contepomi.

There were home Premiership debuts for wing Brendon Daniel and full-back Jamie Williams.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was forced to play for the Falcons just six days before the Six Nations clash against France in Paris after England A fly-half Dave Walder suffered a recurrence of the leg injury which has seen him sidelined for the last two weeks.

Newcastle, who have won their last two Premiership games on the road, were also without Scotland hooker Steve Brotherstone who failed a late fitness test on a strained hamstring so Matt Thompson made his Premiership debut.

Drahm, with the wind at his back, put Bristol into the lead with a 45-metre penalty after 15 minutes having put one wide of the far upright from a similar position 10 minutes earlier.

He added his second from 40 metres but not before the visitors scored twice. Wilkinson landed a 30-metre drop goal and then converted the first try of the game from centre Inga Tuigamala after breaks from Richard Arnold and Doddie Weir.

Wilkinson was short with his first penalty attempt from 40 metres out but Drahm made no mistake from 15 metres out in front of the posts.

Just before the interval Falcons centre Jamie Noon was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on close to his own line.

Bristol took advantage of the extra man and worked the ball wide for tighthead prop Julian White, watched from the stand by England coach Andy Robinson, who scored his first try for the home side to give them a 14-10 interval lead.

The home side scored two converted tries in five minutes early in the second half with Daniel and Williams having a hand in both.

Openside flanker Adam Vander, back after an eight week lay-off, scored the first followed by England Under-21 Phil Christophers.

Bristol, still dominating the second half, earned their third try scoring bonus point of the season when Williams, still on a one-month trial, scored the Shoguns' fourth try of the afternoon with Drahm converting from the left touchline.

The Falcons scored a late consolation try from left wing Michael Stephenson after a break from replacement flanker Jon Dunbar, with Wilkinson converting from the touchline on the stroke of full-time.