By Leipziger
March 23 2014

“Ten more minutes and you could have won that,” commented one relieved home fan after Newcastle Falcons’ 40-33 defeat at Gloucester yesterday.

37-7 down after an hour, the Falcons were inspired by replacement fly-half Joel Hodgson and scored no less than four late tries to secure two bonus points. The day marked the Falcons’ first five-try haul in the Premiership for over seven years – the last time was against Wasps at Kingston Park in February 2007.

The result increases the lead over Worcester in the relegation battle to twelve points after Wasps broke the Warriors’ hearts on Friday. Plus, another game has been ticked off the list and only five now remain this season. It now looks increasingly certain that Newcastle will be enjoying a second season back in the Premiership in 2014/15.

Pre-match, Zach Kibirige was the talk of the travelling Geordies, having been named in the starting line-up for a Premiership debut in place of Lee Smith. Chris York started in the back row with Mark Wilson injured, and Oliver Tomaszczyk replaced the suspended Kieran Brookes.

England U20 star Kibirige had an early chance to get on the scoresheet as the Falcons attacked the Gloucester line. Scott Lawson and Chris York also made efforts before former Newcastle lock James Hudson was sin-binned for an infringement on the line when Kibirige was tackled. The young winger also had a try disallowed for crossing on the right, and Phil Godman missed a simple penalty.

Gloucester also butchered a chance, Hudson throwing a pass into touch with a two-man overlap before his yellow card.

But the hosts were first on the scoresheet through flanker Sione Kalamafoni, who drove for the line from close range and reached out to touch down. Rob Cook added the conversion.

The Falcons equalised just before Hudson returned to the field, with a move to the right ending with York taking a floating pass from Godman and steaming in down the right touchline. The Scottish fly-half forgot his earlier miss and slotted a tricky conversion.

Cook however gave Gloucester the lead again by converting his own try following a backs move, and then added a penalty before half-time.

After the break, Cook kicked the home side into a 20-3 lead with his second penalty, before Mike Blair had a box kick charged down in the Falcons’ 22 and Hudson charged towards the line, beating Blair and Noah Cato to the loose ball and the try. Soon after, Gloucester’s bonus point was secured by Mike Tindall, who moved quickly to the left after involvement in the midfield and outpaced the Newcastle defence down the touchline.

Things got worse for the Geordies when England winger Jonny May scored with his first touch after coming on as a replacement. At 37-7, the only question now seemed to be how many more Gloucester would score.

But then Dean Richards threw on Scott Wilson, George McGuigan and particularly Joel Hodgson, who between them gave the Falcons a pace and urgency they had previously lacked. It was the young Irish hooker who struck first, driving over the line from close range on the left. Hodgson converted but there was still no sign that the score was anything more than a consolation.

Warren Fury, also on as a replacement, almost got a try minutes later after the Falcons countered but the scrum-half dropped the ball just in front of the line. The away side won a penalty from the scrum and after driving the line-out towards the tryline, Andy Saull touched down.

Gloucester were again reduced to fourteen men with Matt Kvesic being sent to the bin for a ruck offence inside the last ten minutes. Again the Falcons went to the corner, and the ball was brought out of the tight and sent to Alex Tait to race through the defence on the left, securing his side’s first Premiership try bonus point since October 2009.

With the score now 37-26, Gloucester came upfield and were clearly spooked as when they won a penalty, rather than trying to run the clock down, Cook was asked to send it through the posts and duly obliged.

With the clock on zero, the Falcons went back on the attack. Finally, the ball came out to Cato on the far right and the winger took advantage of a large gap in the home defence to score with the last play of the match. Hodgson kicked a tricky conversion and the Falcons had two bonus points, all-but ending the relegation battle this year and ensuring that the travelling Geordies would begin the evening in the South East in a fine mood.