CA Brive have squeezed past Newcastle Falcons 9-7 in the European Challenge Cup after leaving it late to kick the winning points.

Joel Hodgson spurned a chance to get the Falcons off to a good start when he missed an early penalty before failing again on 26 minutes.

Thomas Laranjeira made no such mistake for the visitors when he converted just after the half-hour mark to give Brive the lead.

However, the Falcons hit back with a try before Hodgson found his shooting boots at the third attempt to give the home side a 7-3 lead at the interval.

Laranjeria closed the gap after the break, before he uncharacteristically missed with two consecutive penalties.

Laranjeria's kicking only got worse as he failed with a third attempt on the hour mark, but the Frenchman had the final word when he finally converted with five minutes to go to his side the win.