They stay top of the Premiership because London Wasps were beaten 13-12 by Saracens, but director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre was left bemoaning a lost opportunity.
His makeshift side had dominated the first half and it had looked as though they would succeed in beating the Falcons on their own patch for the first time in 14 attempts.
But they had been forced into 12 changes and that took its toll as the game wore on.
In the end Newcastle grabbed four tries to stave off the threat of relegation, leaving Leeds Tykes to take the drop into National One.
Saint-Andre said: "We had enough opportunities to have scored five or six tries but we managed just two. We weren't clinical enough when we were in control in the first half although we did play some good rugby.
"Twice our skipper Jason Robinson was in a position to score tries but we forgot to give him the ball. So I am disappointed because I thought we deserved more from the game.
"I certainly don't think we have lost momentum because we were missing a lot of players. There was no Andrew Sheridan, Chris Jones, Dean Schofield, Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto or Mark Taylor while Jason White only got on for 40 minutes.
"Most of them will be 100 per cent fit when we play Bath next week and I preferred to rest them to make sure they will be fresh for that game."
A relieved Rob Andrew, his opposite number at Falcons, said: "That was a massive performance. With Leeds picking up two points the day before it put the pressure on but the players responded magnificently.
"Sale are a good side, but we grew in confidence as the game went on. We look dangerous when we get quick ball and it is a flaw of the game that referees allow sides to slow things up."
That is also a regular complaint from the Sharks' camp and these two sides usually produce exciting contests because both try to play flowing rugby. Sharks dominated the early stages and their fans had to adjust to a side playing with almost gay abandon.
After just five minutes Oriol Ripol, their Spanish wing, made an excellent break and, although the referee indicated he was about to award Sharks a penalty, they moved the ball wide where second rows Chris Day and Lobbe were lurking with intent.
Sin bin
The big Argentinian Lobbe plunged over in the corner and Valentin Courrent, who kicked two further penalties, added the conversion.
Newcastle drew level just before the break after Welsh prop Eifion Roberts, being given his first start, was sin-binned but Robinson ensured a three-point interval lead with another drop goal.
It was a different story in the second half. Jonny Wilkinson trotted into the fray for the first time in months and, while he left the kicking to Aussie Matt Burke, he provided a lift to his struggling side. Falcons grabbed three second-half tries and Sharks didn't have the ammunition to trim their sails sufficiently to at least grab a loser's bonus point.
There were plusses for Sharks in defeat. Courrent provided a level of invention that has been missing of late so it is a pity he is leaving at the end of the season to return to France.
Ripol looked lively on the wing and that, as much as anything, might act as the spark Cueto needs to regain the form that made him a shoe-in to the England side. And they have a useful prospect in Roberts, a North Wales farmer, who would benefit from a summer spent with the fitness coaches.
England fans will be delighted to hear that Wilkinson came through unscathed for Falcons.
Wilkinson said afterwards: "It was a lovely day to be playing rugby against an ambitious team like Sale that enables both sides to play the sort of rugby they want to play. I am a bit sore because I was thrown in at the deep end but I am taking it one day at a time."
ENGLAND World Cup hero Matt Dawson could have played his last game. The Wasps star, who planned to retire at the end of the season, was helped off with an ankle injury after being hit by a late tackle against Saracens.
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