FOR the second successive home game Australian full back Matt Burke was the hero for Newcastle Falcons in a dramatic win against Leeds yesterday.

Burke scored a hat-trick, but it was the centre who should have played for England on Saturday, Jamie Noon, who scored the try which finally put the Falcons ahead with six minutes left.

Even then Leeds threatened to come back as they ran the ball at every opportunity and their outstanding open side flanker, Irishman Colm Rigney, almost got over.

But Burke had the last word as he scored in the eighth minute of injury time to secure a bonus point with the Falcons' fourth try.

Two weeks ago it was his superb defence at the death which saved the day against Perpignan, but this time Burke's pace and awareness in attack saw him upstage opposite number Tim Stimpson.

The former West Hartlepool, Newcastle and England full back made no impression in attack and had a poor second half as the Falcons overturned a 13-5 deficit.

They still trailed 16-12 until Noon burst through two tackles to score under the posts after 74 minutes following a move up the left in which Mathew Tait smartly beat his man.

Although Epi Taione struggled to justify his selection at centre ahead of Tait, the youngster was sent on for the last 15 minutes in place of winger Michael Stephenson and made good use of the ball on the four occasions he had it.

After a disappointing first half, it was an enthralling finish for the crowd of 6,020, which was well below this season's average because of the counter-attraction at St James' Park.

Leeds matched the Falcons up front with former West Hartlepool prop Mike Shelley prominent and they had the edge in the back row through Rigney and No 8 Alix Popham, while Semo Setiti still doesn't look the part for Newcastle.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "We said at half-time we had to get the balance right between territory and playing football. We had to get the ball down their end and dominate possession, and tactically we got it spot on in the second half."

Andrew revealed that Noon had taken a blow on the head and it would be up to the medics whether he takes part in England training this week.

After winning their first three games then taking two points from the next five, Newcastle had slipped to fourth from the bottom and were in dire need of this victory.

Leeds had won three of their previous four and soon showed that they were defensively capable of withstanding the Falcons' attacks, which tended to be too lateral.

The decision to prefer Taione to Tait proved not to be a great advert for size and strength over skill.

Taione did, however, confirm that his handling has improved and a quick flip pass gave 20-year-old lock Alex Buist a run up the right wing in the first real attack.

But it was immediately followed by Shelley breaking away from a line-out and the vigorous support carried play to the 22, where the Falcons fell off-side and Stimpson kicked the seventh minute penalty.

Taione then clattered into Leeds' debutant fly half Gareth Wright, knocking the South African backwards, and ex-Falcons flanker Jon Dunbar was spoken to for handling in the ensuing ruck.

Dave Walder kicked the penalty to the corner, but Newcastle lost the line-out.

They were given a second chance, however, as Leeds failed to clear adequately and the Falcons drove almost to the line before whipping the ball out for Tom May to send Burke over in the left corner.

Leeds began the match with two former England wingers who rarely complete 80 minutes, and David Rees was sin-binned after 24 minutes then Iain Balshaw limped off five minutes later.

Although he was prominent later on, Newcastle-born Rees' absence made little difference and when the Falcons were penalised just outside the 22 Stimpson made it 6-5 to Leeds.

Four minutes later Rees made a telling interception on halfway with his first touch after his return and he zig-zagged to the 22 before Wright broke through in midfield and the ball was moved left for replacement winger Diego Albanese to score. Stimpson converted from the touchline.

Newcatle pressed strongly at the start of the second half and twice got to the line without getting the ball down, and it took them 17 minutes to score.

It stemmed from Taione seizing a loose ball in midfield and sending Noon to the 22, where Leeds were penalised.

Phil Dowson took a quick tap and surged to within five metres of the posts before the ball was moved left for Burke to score halfway out. Walder's conversion reduced the gap to one point, but six minutes later Leeds drove a maul deep into the home 22 and when Newcastle were penalised Stimpson slotted the penalty.

Noon's try came just when it was beginning to seem Leeds might hang on, then Burke, May and Tait attacked up the left and Walder kicked a penalty to make it 22-16.

A converted try could still have seen Leeds snatch it and they went perilously close before replacement Joe Shaw, back after injury, burst up the left for the Falcons.

Play was switched to the right with Tait in the line for Burke to complete his hat-trick from 20 metres.

Walder converted with the last kick of the game.

Result: Newcastle Falcons 29 Leeds Tykes 16.