Falcons academy manager Richard Metcalf said afterwards: “That was a good game of rugby between two evenly-matched sides.

“We used the match as a bit of a trial for our Under-18s tour to Ireland in the summer. We have a big squad and this was a great chance to have a look at some of the boys.

“Rory Clegg showed his class at fly half with two well-taken tries, but there were good performances around the park as well. Fred Burdon at inside centre had a useful game, and there was some decent work in the forwards too.

“We did struggle at times in the ruck, but what ball we did get we used well, and I was happy with the effort and the result in the end.”

Both sides defied the conditions to produce an expansive game in the wet, Falcons No.8 Michael Ellery carrying the ball well and hitting hard in the loose.

An industrious showing from wing Phillip White saw him narrowly denied tries twice in the left corner, and it was down to fly half Clegg to provide the early lead via a penalty.

Edinburgh took the lead shortly after, however, through right wing Christy O’Donnell as they countered from turnover ball on their own 22, fly half Stewart Walker adding the conversion.

Newcastle grabbed the lead with almost the last play of the half from a scrum in Edinburgh territory, Clegg taking the ball at first receiver and stepping two men to score under the posts before converting his own score for a 10-7 interval advantage.

Fullback Matthew Lister and wing Mark Thompson almost combined for a spectacular score to get the Falcons going in the second half, while flanker Will Welsh foraged well at the breakdown for a turnover and lock Andrew Archibald showed industry in the line out.

It was the hosts though who snatched the lead in a see-saw game when their persistent phase play was rewarded by outside centre Sam Hughes going over down the left hand side.

The lead was not to last, however, as left wing White finally got the try he had deserved courtesy of a fine backs move from scrum ball on the 22, the decisive miss pass freeing the winger in wide open space.

Clegg then pounced for his second try as he chipped and chased from slow ball on the 22 to flat foot the defence, collecting his kick over the try line to dot down and convert.

Edinburgh had the last say in the dying minutes as replacement prop James Gilbert rumbled over from a rolling maul in the left corner, Walker’s missed conversion attempt leaving the final score at 22-17 in favour of the Falcons.

Edinburgh Under-18s:

Tries: O’Donnell, Hughes, Gilbert
Cons: Walker

Newcastle Falcons Under-18s:

Tries: Clegg 2, White
Cons: Clegg 2
Pens: Clegg

Edinburgh Under-18s:

15 Tom Brown
14 Christy O’Donnell
13 Sam Hughes
12 Iain Downie
11 Callum Cockburn
10 Stewart Walker
9 Rob Patterson

1 Cameron Godfrey
2 Fraser Brown
3 Dougie Orr
4 Fraser Galbraith
5 James Taylor
6 Tom Drennan
7 Neil Rodger
8 Cammie Mayo

Replacements:

Ronald Henderson
Craig Owenson
James Gilbert
Stuart McInally
Andrew Lamb
Greg Taylor
Alex Blair
Finlay Gillies
Neil Criggie
Dougie Bringhurst
Nick Bell

Newcastle Falcons Under-18s:

15 Matthew Lister
14 Mark Thompson
13 Rhys Thomas
12 Fred Burdon
11 Phillip White
10 Rory Clegg
9 Kyle Booysens

1 Nick Whitley
2 Luke Fletcher
3 Andrew Rodenby
4 Will Stewart
5 Andrew Archibald
6 Martin Dixon
7 Will Welsh
8 Michael Ellery

Replacements:

James Watson
Matthew Cannon
Aaron Hall
Sean Dougall
Sam Crosby
Ben Day