Newcastle Red Bulls
Hair No More
By Citizen Slacker
May 13 2011
Last night saw the end of an era, with local hero Micky Ward taking his playing bow, in a testimonial featuring a host of Falcons past & present, against a North East Barbarians team made up of players from the upper amateur & grass roots clubs in the Northumberland area, not to mention a few of Micky’s old playing buddies from Wallsend.
A very decent turn out, considering the game was on a school night, meant that the West Stand was fuller than for any of the regular games this season, and they saw what was arguably the most entertaining game this year. Micky took to the field & took a round of standing applause before the game got underway, showing us all the new haircut he had for the occasion.
In the starting Falcons line up were some familiar faces from the past, Jamie Noon, Tom May, Michael Stephenson, the irrepressible Epi Taione & Gary Armstong.
The first score came after about five minutes with Epi finally getting over the line after a decent run of build up play, but Jeremy Manning (who judging by his choice of differing iridescent boots is spending too much time with the local kids) missed the conversion.
On about 10 minutes, the departing Filipo Levi caught an interception, gave a good hand off, then cantered 55 metres to score, this time Manning did get the extras. From the restart, the Falcons managed to spill the ball, back rower Brent Wilson failing to hold on to the ball, but possession was regained & Jamie Noon got his name on the score sheet after some good recycling work. Micky took the first of his conversion attempts, but sliced the ball nastily low, wide & ugly.
Matt Thompson was having a sterling game at full back, safe under the high ball & attacking well, coming into the line looking for work as often as he could. Gary Armstrong was a revelation at scrum half, feeding the ball straight down the middle of the scrums, encouraging some proper hooking.
Kieron Brookes showed his speed & ball handling skills by making a 60 yard dash, finally being brought down & some good rucking saw the BaBas take possession, but another intercepted pass by Stephenson on the 10 metre line saw him make the next try, again though, not converted.
The Barbarians were not giving up though & opted for a quick tap & go at the next penalty (given for offside by Taione who was looking to get binned, but was subbed instead) , after they thought they had scored in the right hand corner, but after a couple of quick rucks they were able to get the ball down to the right of the posts.
Five minutes later & they got their second score after some unsurprisingly poor Falcons’ defence, this time to the left of the posts, with the conversion.
Euan Murray opted to take the next restart, & as many of our forwards have proved this season, his kicking was none too shoddy, with the Falcons reclaiming possession until a crunching tackle on Joel Hodgson saw the ball dislodged & recovered by the visitors, before the Falcons were bundled in to touch in possession. A quick line out from the Babas bamboozled the Falcons’ defence with a try being scored from a near on 65 metre stuttering dash & a couple of attempted tackles.
Alan Tait showed a decent turn of speed with a mazy run down the touchline leaving most people watching (& possibly playing) not sure where he was taking the attack, before throwing a couple of outrageous dummies, just before half time.
The frenetic pace didn’t let up in the second half, Chip scampering twice in the opening five minutes, the first unconverted, the second with the extras.
Bobo showed the footwork we all suspected he had down the right touchline, beating three defenders to put Micky in under the posts for a try but Micky showed again that not all forwards can kick, by scuffing the conversion.
Another intercepted pass on the Falcons’ 22 saw Micky Young streak up the pitch, converting his own try under the posts.
Having been taught a lesson by the Northumbrians in the first half, the Falcons took their own quick line out inside their 22, shift the ball across the field until it reached Tom (there is no such thing as a friendly game of rugby) May who ran the ball to half way before offloading in a tackle to send Joel in for another under the post score.
From the restart Epi took the ball, sidestepping several tacklers, before a wayward basket ball style pass eventually found Fielden, who was able to finish off.
The next restart saw Hodgson give a great show & go before releasing Andy Perry for a 40 metre canter in under the posts with full Ashton dive, but in full support of Micky, missing his own drop attempt at the conversion.
Normal service was resumed from the next restart with a Falcons player not watching the ball, head butting it back toward the opposition, before the ball was finally won back by the Falcons, who between Manning & Alex Tait put together some neat interplay, before a ringer (any ideas who?) from the Babas wearing a Falcons shirt scored the try.
Fitzy was making his usual presence felt, with several big hits going in from both sides, Bobo made another superb break but the pass at the end was fluffed, but when the ball found its way to Brookes he was able to barge his way over for another score.
The next restart saw the Barbarians make a host of replacements, but without taking any players off, working the ball down the right, but failed to make the numbers count, losing the ball just over the line setting the Falcons off for one last charge. Inside the opposition half, Brookes put in a sublime up & under (probably looking for his winger) but recovered his kick, scoring the last try of the game.
At full time the score was 78 -19, flattering perhaps, but given some of the class on the pitch, even those where the mind was more willing than the body, the Tank’s return is one those who saw it will not forget in a hurry, not surprising. Hamish Smales was given Man of the Match for the Babas, well deserved as he seemed to lead the majority of the visitors attacks & put in a solid defensive display too.
The real Man of the Match, took his second standing ovation at the end of the game, giving a small speech to thank those who had come out to wish him well, those who had supported him through his career & desire to help the Falcons progress in his new chapter at KP as a coach.
So, 13 years, 270+ games in a Black shirt, fighting the evil Pussycat Empire & its despot Oz Tin, munching anything he could lay his hands on after games & still remaining one of the most grounded & humble players you could hope to meet (unless you were in the front row opposite), Micky got the send off he wanted & deserved. Cheers Micky, Wallsend’s finest will not be forgotten in a hurry.
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Quote:Leipy
... fighting the evil Pussycat Empire & its despot Oz Tin ..
Haha .... cheers Leipy!
Monkey did a couple a few years back (the Morpeth show) and then there was the Pussycat empire by Doc.
Anybody fancy having a crack?
I gave up about half time. I'm just disappointed that there are no player ratings in there.
.....but what do I know? I'm not an Australian TMO.
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