Flood + Rudd lead Falcons comeback
By Leipziger January 8 2007
When Leon Lloyd scored his try yesterday, I headed straight for the bar, full of anger and frustration. Just minutes later, I returned outside just in time to see John Rudd score in the corner,and begin another amazing comeback from the dead to help us beat Leicester for the second successive year!
When Leon Lloyd scored his try yesterday, I headed straight for the bar, full of anger and frustration. Just minutes later, I returned outside just in time to see John Rudd score in the corner,and begin another amazing comeback from the dead to help us beat Leicester for the second successive year!
It’s only one game, but let us bask for now in the glory of victory and so many hugs. The Falcons belied a poor showing overall to sneak a momentous victory and give Kingston Park a happy first game of 2007.
Without the injured Matthew Burke and Jamie Noon, though Joe McDonnell and Geoff Parling returned, the Falcons attacked early with a penalty scrum. Mark Mayerhofler broke through and almost got to the line, but dropped the ball and Leicester were given possession as Ben Woods looked to score.
As we won the scrum against the head, Woods then went over again but an offence in the scrum saw Leicester clear.
A good spell of midfield possession followed, and Toby Flood kicked a drop-goal attempt wide from distance.
Flood had a chance to open the scoring with a penalty after we stole a Leicester lineout, but his effort went past the far post.
Andy Goode didn’t miss though when Matt Thompson overthrew a lineout and the Tigers put together a fluent attack, and then were given a penalty.
Our visitors were now in the ascendancy and could have scored on the left, but they missed an overlap and we managed to turnover and clear. The reprieve didn’t last long, as on 26 minutes Goode took set piece ball nipped in for the first try, converting himself.
Goode extended the lead with a second penalty within minutes, before Flood got the Falcons on the scoresheet with a kick of his own on a rare venture upfield. The two fly-halves traded further penalties before the break to leave Leicester with a 6-16 half time lead. And they deserved it.
Initially in the second half the Falcons made some progress, Tom May’s pass to John Rudd on the left just too high for the on-form, barnstorming winger to collect.
However, when Leicester lock James Hamilton was sin-binned, we went for the lineout, and as the ball emerged from the maul Flood cut through a gap for a try which he himself converted to cut the deficit to three points, though it didn’t last.
Goode knocked over his fourth penalty as Ben Woods was sent to the sin bin, and then with 55 minutes gone Lloyd struck just right of the posts.
I didn’t see the conversion, as previously mentioned I thought I’d had an epiphany. If so, it was short-lived, as Rudd was sent over on the left quickly – cue one bloke standing on his own by the door of the stand shouting and jumping whilst trying not to spill!
Flood failed to convert, but with ten minutes left, England’s 6 Nations fly-half (unfortunately – the England bit!) sent a huge kick over to the left for Rudd to latch onto, and KP erupted with passion as the conversion put us a solitary point behind.
Monkey’s words of this week ringing in our ears, the Newcastle faithful found their voices to cheer their team onwards for the win we all want more than any other.
The Falcons charged down a kick and won a scrum in the Leicester 22 and eventually forced a penalty with five minutes left. Flood kicked and put the Falcons into the lead for the first time so close to full time!
The ground was rocking, but joy turned to horror as Sam Vesty kicked a simple penalty for Leicester to regain the lead. Two minutes left, everyone with a Black heart would have been forgiven for thinking it just wasn’t going to happen. But no. Everyone decided to front up and fight.
None more so than Toby Flood. As the clock ticked down, referee Sean Davey awarded a penalty on the far right just inside the Leicester half. “No way will he kick that” I thought, but yes, the referee signaled to the posts!
“Positive energy, positive energy” Flood took responsibility, stepped up and kicked…the flags went up! 31-29 to the Falcons with just seconds left
Leicester kicked off, and the Falcons won a quick scrum. This was it. Surely all we had to do was kick the ball out? As the clock ticked past zero, Lee Dickson fed the ball in…and the scrum turned as over 7,000 Geordies looked on in horror! Dickson floated a high pass to Flood, who dropped the ball behind him!
Under immense pressure Flood managed to gather and kick the ball dead, however Mr Davey believed the ball had been thrown, and attempted to give a penalty before being told what had happened, and the final whistle went!
Jason Oakes and Flood jumped at each other – it was over. A titanic second half battle ended Falcons 31-29 Leicester. Another few years off my life then!
Without the injured Matthew Burke and Jamie Noon, though Joe McDonnell and Geoff Parling returned, the Falcons attacked early with a penalty scrum. Mark Mayerhofler broke through and almost got to the line, but dropped the ball and Leicester were given possession as Ben Woods looked to score.
As we won the scrum against the head, Woods then went over again but an offence in the scrum saw Leicester clear.
A good spell of midfield possession followed, and Toby Flood kicked a drop-goal attempt wide from distance.
Flood had a chance to open the scoring with a penalty after we stole a Leicester lineout, but his effort went past the far post.
Andy Goode didn’t miss though when Matt Thompson overthrew a lineout and the Tigers put together a fluent attack, and then were given a penalty.
Our visitors were now in the ascendancy and could have scored on the left, but they missed an overlap and we managed to turnover and clear. The reprieve didn’t last long, as on 26 minutes Goode took set piece ball nipped in for the first try, converting himself.
Goode extended the lead with a second penalty within minutes, before Flood got the Falcons on the scoresheet with a kick of his own on a rare venture upfield. The two fly-halves traded further penalties before the break to leave Leicester with a 6-16 half time lead. And they deserved it.
Initially in the second half the Falcons made some progress, Tom May’s pass to John Rudd on the left just too high for the on-form, barnstorming winger to collect.
However, when Leicester lock James Hamilton was sin-binned, we went for the lineout, and as the ball emerged from the maul Flood cut through a gap for a try which he himself converted to cut the deficit to three points, though it didn’t last.
Goode knocked over his fourth penalty as Ben Woods was sent to the sin bin, and then with 55 minutes gone Lloyd struck just right of the posts.
I didn’t see the conversion, as previously mentioned I thought I’d had an epiphany. If so, it was short-lived, as Rudd was sent over on the left quickly – cue one bloke standing on his own by the door of the stand shouting and jumping whilst trying not to spill!
Flood failed to convert, but with ten minutes left, England’s 6 Nations fly-half (unfortunately – the England bit!) sent a huge kick over to the left for Rudd to latch onto, and KP erupted with passion as the conversion put us a solitary point behind.
Monkey’s words of this week ringing in our ears, the Newcastle faithful found their voices to cheer their team onwards for the win we all want more than any other.
The Falcons charged down a kick and won a scrum in the Leicester 22 and eventually forced a penalty with five minutes left. Flood kicked and put the Falcons into the lead for the first time so close to full time!
The ground was rocking, but joy turned to horror as Sam Vesty kicked a simple penalty for Leicester to regain the lead. Two minutes left, everyone with a Black heart would have been forgiven for thinking it just wasn’t going to happen. But no. Everyone decided to front up and fight.
None more so than Toby Flood. As the clock ticked down, referee Sean Davey awarded a penalty on the far right just inside the Leicester half. “No way will he kick that” I thought, but yes, the referee signaled to the posts!
“Positive energy, positive energy” Flood took responsibility, stepped up and kicked…the flags went up! 31-29 to the Falcons with just seconds left
Leicester kicked off, and the Falcons won a quick scrum. This was it. Surely all we had to do was kick the ball out? As the clock ticked past zero, Lee Dickson fed the ball in…and the scrum turned as over 7,000 Geordies looked on in horror! Dickson floated a high pass to Flood, who dropped the ball behind him!
Under immense pressure Flood managed to gather and kick the ball dead, however Mr Davey believed the ball had been thrown, and attempted to give a penalty before being told what had happened, and the final whistle went!
Jason Oakes and Flood jumped at each other – it was over. A titanic second half battle ended Falcons 31-29 Leicester. Another few years off my life then!
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