Former Ponteland player Callum Chick continued his return from injury as he captained Newcastle Falcons on Friday night, although saw his side lose 31-16 against league frontrunners Sale Sharks.

The team’s #8, who made his first appearance of the Falcons disrupted season in the home victory against Harlequins in the previous match, couldn’t help his team build on the win as the hosts scored three tries on their way to victory.

“We had enough chances to score enough tries but we just didn’t take them, and we have to look to ourselves as to the reasons why,” said the Falcon’s Director of rugby Dean Richards.

“Sale are a good side and they’re reasonably well-drilled, but we gave them a couple of early tries and it was always going to be hard from there.”

The result means the Falcons now sit seventh in the Premiership table.