It was strange to see both sides smiling & applauding the crowd as Saracens took the tie on aggregate to go through to a semi-final against Bath in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.
The game, played in front of less than 2500 fans, started with Newcastle Falcons looking a little nervous and the possession was turned over on too many occasions. Jonny Wilkinson missed a 'gimme' in the 15th minute with no score on the board. It was Saracens who scored first through Ben Johnston when the Welsh ref gave a penalty to Sarries, who kicked down field and scored from the resulting play. Andy Goode missed the conversion. However I clearly saw a red Saracens hand pull the ball back on the ground through my new 'bins' and I feel this set the tone for some weak refereeing.
Newcastle Falcons then woke up to the game and piled on some phases of pressure through some effective work by the pack who were clearly on top. Unfortunately the ball kept being turned over. Mark Wilkinson again looked out of sorts and he seemed to be the perpetual weak link in the side, all that was good seemed to turn sour when Mark got involved.
On the half hour Saracens again moved the ball well along the backline with Horan, Johnson and Goode looking effective. The Falcons cleared to touch, however from the resulting line out the Saracens' hooker went over for the second try, which Goode converted to make it 12 – 0.
The Falcons came back strongly from this, again through the forwards, who seemed to break the gain line with every ruck or maul and eventually the Saracens' pack dropped a maul to give Jonny a chance to kick for the corner. Once again Stuart Grimes was the target in the line out, the Falcons drove the ball on towards the line, it somehow seemed to squirt out of the maul and Liam Botham powered over in the corner to get the home side’s first score. Jonny Wilkinson converted the try and the sides went in at half time with the score 7 -12 to Saracens.
The coaching team must have agreed the problem in the side was Wilkinson Snr as he did not return after the break, being replaced by Phil Godman to give us two play makers in the middle of the park.
The Newcastle Falcons' pack started again to grind down the opposition, with Dunbar, Peel and Hurter (who carried the ball more today than he has all season) making metres and getting behind the defence. The pressure told and Hugh Vyvyan scored in the corner to make it 12-12. Jonny converted this from a near impossible angle to give us the lead 14-12.
Epi Taione then enters the game to a cheer as John Dunbar, who had made some vital yards all game limped off.
Saracens then regained the lead after some slick hands by Castaignede to Shanklin but the South Stand fans all thought it looked a forward pass and told the three Welsh officials exactly what they thought. Goode converted to make it 14-19
The Falcons again rallied and drove it through the forwards ('are they beginning to over do this?' my mate asked). A mix up allowed Saracens to attack our line and Jamie Noon made a try saving tackle. Goode scored a penalty from the ref pulling play back for an offside to take the game to 14-20.
Saracens seemed content to play the game in our half, Goode kicking tactically to make us keep having to take the game to them. Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon defended well, but it was Wilkinson’s missed tackle on Tim Horan that allowed Saracens' back row Ben Russell, on to replace Richard Hill, to score. Goode slotted the conversion taking the score to Falcons 14 - Saracens 29.
Progress to the semi-finals was now out of reach but Newcastle Falcons now had to dig deep to get a win on the board as this was the most important thing in the minds of the fans.
Again the pack kept breaking the gain line and drove through Epi a number of times. Finally when the backs got the ball Michael Stephenson was tackled high and Jonny kicked again to the corner. From the lineout the Sarries' pack were driven back and Ian Peel touched down for a try 19-29 this was converted 21-29.
Micky Ward came on to replace Marius Hurter on 70 minutes, which that did not seem to weaken the pack, and again we kept possession through forwards and backs.
Saracens gave away another penalty, allowing Jonny Wilkinson to kick for the corner. A catch and drive later, and Matt Thompson (on for Nick Makin) was the man to cone up with the ball from the pile of players, another Jonny Wilkinson conversion brought the score to 28 - 29. 77 minutes gone and the victory was in sight.
Much of the same from the Falcons in the last few minutes saw the Sarries give a kickable penalty to the best kicker in the world to win the game in the 82nd minute, Jonny simply slotted it home, and the ref called full time 31-29 to Newcastle Falcons.
Both teams clapped the fans and seemed happy, Saracens with the overall result and Newcastle Falcons with the way they battled back and got a win when it all looked lost earlier.
Man of the Match
Some very good performances all over the park resulted in this win but I can only give Man of the Match to one player, my fellow 'Tightheed' - Marius Hurter, who was the rock the forward display was built upon in the scrum and unusually for him in the loose.
Thanks go to No4, my official time keeper, who helped me work out the referee's decisions and who the try scorers were at the top end of the ground.
Nothing to Lose - Newcastle Falcons v Saracens PPCC Preview
Note from the Ed:
A big thank you to Tightheed for the match report! Do you agree with him? Or do you have a different take on the match? Have your say & post your comments on the Message Board!
Do you want to review a match? Write a preview or a general Falcons or rugby related article? If so contact me on:
tykefalcon@hotmail.com - all contributions / suggests are welcome!
Mally
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