First try
Bring on the Warriors
First try
By Leipziger April 7 2008
The Falcons ended a five-match unbeaten run on Saturday night to go through to the European Challenge Cup, where a trip to Worcester beckons. Losing until the last kick of the first half, a poor first half performance was turned around with four second half tries.
First try
The Falcons ended a five-match unbeaten run on Saturday night to go through to the European Challenge Cup, where a trip to Worcester beckons. Losing until the last kick of the first half, a poor first half performance was turned around with four second half tries.
Castres went ahead first with an early penalty following a slack turnover, however from the kick-off Toby Flood set up John Rudd to score in the corner. Rhino had one of his better games, not just for his score, and certainly much better than last week.
With the lineout unpredictable, Castres stole and came forward, second row Iosefa Tekori taking the ball from the side of a ruck and running in unopposed to score the visitors’ sole try of the night. Romain Teulet converted, as supporters continued to be bewildered at how Tekori had scored. Thank heavens for video.Jonny Wilkinson kicked a quick penalty to reduce the deficit as the snow began to fall, but it was a rare trip into the Castres half as the French side dominated the early stages. Andy Perry did scurry over the halfway line following a carry by Phil Dowson but dropped, just before Dowse was replaced temporarily by Russell Winter.
Mathew Tait, having been knocked out just over a week earlier, had a superb evening and for me was man of the match, with a long kick and chase up to the Castres 22 looking to get us on the attack though not quite coming off. A great run forward was followed by Spud outrunning Matthieu Bourret after the winger had chipped forward and clearing up near the tryline, winning a penalty in the process.
Ben Woods and Florian Faure were sin-binned within a couple of minutes of each other in our half, before Jamie Noon made a good break on a rare visit to the Castres 22 and from the fallout Wilkinson kicked over a right-footed drop goal to reduce the deficit to two points just before the half hour.
Noon was then replaced by Tom Dillon, and the Falcons got more territory coming up to the end of the half, Wilkinson’s second penalty on the stroke of half time putting us into a one point lead, despite not having played particularly well.
From a quick throw-in at the start of the second half, Flood received the ball in space in the middle of our half, but despite having Dillon and May on the right decided to kick and Castres touched down behind the line.
We came forward again however, and though Dowson’s pass in the 22 went loose, Dillon gathered and went close to the line before Carl Hayman took the ball on to score from close range on the right. The try was a lovely passing move involving Wilkinson and May setting up Dowse’s run, and the conversion from Wilkinson put the Falcons in command.
Castres steamed forward towards out 22 by taking a loose ball spilled by Dowson on halfway, but we managed to defend and win a throw on the right following what was probably one of the French side’s most dangerous moments in the second half, although they were pacy on the counter on occasion. Frustration was probably behind away captain Rodrigo Capo Orega throwing a few half-punches at Dowson, though he stayed on the pitch.
The third try on 54 minutes was another delightful piece of play, with a Castres kick being charged down and the ball being switched from right to left. Wilkinson chipped through to the five-metre line with players queuing up to score, and Dillon was the man in receipt for his first senior try. The conversion didn’t go through the posts, but it mattered little with us in full control of the game.
With 25 minutes left, it was time for the vocal 6,005 to sit back and enjoy the game, with Brent Wilson and Andy Long now in the fray.
Castres enjoyed a little spell in our half around the hour mark, but strong tackling kept them outside the 22 and eventually centre Lionel Mazars knocked in a tackle.
Just minutes after the win was sealed with James Grindal catching a chip by Teulet, who was blocked by Dillon whilst chasing, and our first-choice scrum half next season (probably) legged it half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Wilkinson kicked the easy conversion. With the game won, Tait was replaced with Tim Visser.
With ten minutes left, a strong play on the left with Hayman and replacement Jon Golding making metres was brought right and Flood flicked the ball over to May who touched down, but the referee ruled the ball had gone forward. The scrum was reversed to allow Grindal to put in, but the little lad knocked on under pressure at the base.
Coming back onto the attack, Dillon cut a good run through the Castres defence before offloading to Hayman, who was slipped and was tackled in front of the line. However, we brought the ball wide and Wilson powered over for the final try on 73 minutes, the conversion from Wilkinson bringing up the 40 points.
Saturday’s win was a great result against a spirited and determined Castres, and we saw some top performances by people like Tait, Dillon after he came on, Mark Sorenson and man of the match Hayman. The halves seemed a bit parallel, with us having the ball but not really threatening in the first half, whilst Castres in the second half were undone by our attacking determination, defensive strength and their own individual errors, and the fact we took our chances is encouraging.
So we now go to Worcester for the semi-final for the first of two crunch games, or the second one would be had it been in 12 months’ time. The first trip to Sixways will be our fourth Challenge Cup semi-final, and we will be going for a first European final with the confidence of Steve Bates’ first win as acting DoR. Bring on the Warriors!
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Re: Bring on the Warriors
Posted by: Powick_Eastander (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:07:20:10:00
Looking forward to it!!!
Re: Bring on the Warriors
Posted by: Monkey1. (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:07:20:59:35
Good one Leipy, nice to have something worth writing about for a change.
I think it will be a good game too PE, looking forward to some nervous tension.
I think it will be a good game too PE, looking forward to some nervous tension.
Re: Bring on the Warriors
Posted by: Tony_At_Wuss (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:07:22:16:49
It should be a cracking game. We have hit a rich vein of form, and our backs are really firing now (yes, we have got some backs this season!!!).
Can't wait for this one!
Déjà vu? I’ve seen it all before!
Can't wait for this one!
Déjà vu? I’ve seen it all before!
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