By Leipziger
May 11 2014

A home defeat by Exeter condemned Newcastle Falcons to their lowest Premiership points total ever, and extended the Geordies’ losing run to sixteen successive league games and, by the time the season starts again, over ten months.

Ending the season six points above relegated Worcester, the Falcons’ management will know that, despite some improvements being made to the squad, hard work will be required to avoid another late-season scramble against relegation next spring.

On the teamsheet, Gary Strain and Ian Nagle made first starts in a black shirt, both potentially playing for contracts next season, while James Fitzpatrick played his final Newcastle game ahead of a transfer to Leeds this summer. Oliver Tomaszczyk replaced Kieran Brookes in the front row.

The Falcons began in a fast, determined fashion, looking to get a first league win over the Chiefs and give themselves and the home supporters some more optimism going into the close season. Joel Hodgson kicked over two early penalties to give the hosts a 6-0 lead at a buoyant Kingston Park.

However, with just ten minutes gone, Exeter got the first try when Luke Cowan-Dickie broke off a maul to touch down. Henry Slade couldn’t put the visitors ahead, but the Devon side had their tails up and Hodgson had to sprint back to tackle the charging Dave Lewis just metres from the tryline.

The TMO also denied Exeter a second try, ruling that ??? had lost control before touching down as he dived for the line on the left.

A penalty by Slade on the half hour put Exeter ahead for the first time, and then as the Falcons valiantly tried to hold back an onslaught in front of the posts, Ben White used the referee’s positioning to his advantage to score to the right of the posts. Gary Strain and Will Welch were incensed and made whistleman Craig Maxwell-Keys aware of that, but the Premiership debutant was not for turning.

Slade’s conversion made the half-time score 6-15.

In the second half, Sinoti Sinoti broke through a number of tackles on the left on a charge for the line but the play was pulled back for a forward pass, and from there the game lost its spark a little. The Falcons seemed content to kick the ball back to Exeter and allow the Chiefs to play.

Slade’s second penalty extended his side’s lead as the home side threw on the substitutes in an attempt to end the season with a first league win since October.

The Falcons managed to put together an attack in the away 22, but hope turned to horror as an attack brought left saw Phil Godman attempt to chip over Sam Hill just a metre in front of him on the tryline. Hill gathered and raced upfield, seemingly certain to score until he inexplicably dallied on the halfway line and allowed the Falcons to defend.

The end-of-season encounter looked set to peter out until Fetu’u Vainikolo scored a late try to rub salt in Newcastle wounds, however the home crowd did get a cheer when man of the match Mark Wilson broke on the 22 to score the final try of the season at Kingston Park. Godman converted, making the final score 13-23.

The result made it ten defeats in eleven home Premiership matches for the Falcons in 2013/14, who have managed to stay up but will need to take action in the summer to kick on further next year.