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And this week's cup match is....

A Divine Noonie
By Mally (31/01/03) January 31 2003
It's said when you're bottom you need to treat every match as a cup match. This Saturday Newcastle Falcons take on NEC Harlequins and this is a big game for the club. Not only does Saturday see the official opening of the new West Stand, the pundits all agree this is a must win game for the Falcons.
Bottom of the table and 6 points adrift Newcastle can not afford to lose touch with 11th placed Bath. But how likely is a win?
    NEC Harlequins
      Quins have won 3 out of the last 4 Premiership meetings, the 4th being a 6-6 draw, but have not won away in the Zurich Premiership since they beat Rotherham in March 2001. While Harlequins beat Bristol in their last Premiership outing they have not managed back-to-back wins since March 2001.
        Last weekend Harlequins lost to Leicester Tigers in the Powergen Cup. Dan Luger had a muted return from injury and his presence was not enough to make up for the absence of Keith Wood, Nick Duncombe and Pat Sanderson.
          Quins will be hoping to overturn their miserable away record, but as they are currently 7th in the league table and 13 points above the drop, this match is not a must win game for them.
            Newcastle Falcons
              Newcastle Falcons on the other hand…. Well it’s all been said hasn’t it? Best stadium in National Division One, Wilkinson will leave, Rob gets his comeuppance, last minute signings, coach leaving, redundancy rumours, blah, blah, blah... We’ve all read the stories!
                So what are the facts? Falcons not won in the Premiership since we beat the Sharks 31-20 on 27 October, 2002 and we have even lost 3 Premiership matches in a row at Kingston Park, we’re bottom of the table have a stinker of a run in. That’s the negative stuff...
                  The positives. In our last match we beat Saracens. More importantly Newcastle fought back from 12-0 down to win the game with four tries and a late penalty from Jonny Wilkinson. We had nothing to play for in that match except pride, the team had a point to prove. Saturday’s game is far more important – we’re playing for survival.
                    The Falcons pack has been playing well, but will be strengthened by the experience of new arrivals Mark Andrews and Warren Britz, who hopefully will make their Falcons’ debuts and Mark Mayerhofler will no doubt be back in the centres (he was not eligible to play in the PPCC).

                    Is it too late for the new signings to have an impact? Better late than never, and on Saturday many eyes will be on the new arrivals.

                      Will records fall?
                        Apart from the Quins away disaster record, there’s another milestone, which might just be passed.
                          Should Jonny Wilkinson score just 6 more points he will join a small elite group, becoming the third (& the youngest) player to score 1000 Premiership points after Tim Stimpson and Paul Grayson. The Zurich Golden Boot Award is given to those players who reach the 1000 point landmark.
                            Heaven or Hell
                              A Devilish Marius Hurter and a Divine Jamie Noon have been on the metro this week, promoting the match & advertising the official opening of the new West Stand.
                                The posters seem to have been a success and attendance figures should be good as seated tickets have already sold out, only Terrace tickets are now available. (Newcastle Falcons Ticket Office: 0870 085 6060).
                                  My Prediction
                                    With Premiership survival at stake, the arrival of the new signings and the injuries to the Quins team I think (hope and pray) that Newcastle will edge this one. This time I don’t care if all our points come from Jonny Wilkinson’s boot, I’ll happily forego the tries, just as long as we get the win!
                                      Oh and by the way – don’t lose your metro ticket – hand it in at the bar and claim your free drink!
                                          Newcastle Falcons Squad
                                            Ian Peel, Marius Hurter, Nick Makin, Micky Ward, James Isaacson, Matt Thompson, Mark Andrews, Stuart Grimes, Craig Hamilton, Jon Dunbar, Epi Taione, Andrew Mower, Craig Newby, Hugh Vyvyan, Warren Britz, James Grindal, Hall Charlton, Jonny Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson, Jamie Noon, Mark Mayerhofler, Michael Stephenson, Liam Botham, Joe Shaw, Tom May, Phil Godman.
                                              The club have announced Rob Andrew will not name his starting line-up until closer to kick off.
                                                The following players are unavailable for selection due to injury: - Dave Walder (tibia), Dave Richardson (cruciate ligament), Steve Brotherstone (knee), Gareth Maclure (hamstring), Richard Arnold (Achilles) and James Christian (shoulder).
                                                    • Seats Selling Out
                                                    • Falcons v Saracens 20/01/03 PPCC - "Both Sides Leave Smiling"
                                                    • Quins 47 Falcons 23

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