By Peter Taylor
December 6 2014

4,500 hardy soles braved the freezing conditions and cheered the Falcons to an excellent try bonus point win, in an exciting game that was in doubt until the final whistle.

Following his stated intention, Falcons boss Dean Richards selected a starting side that contained 13 changes of personnel, and only hooker McGuigan retaining his jersey from last week's loss to Sale Sharks. Alex Tait switched to wing to allow Simon Hammersley to start at full back.

Chris Harris and Adam Powell, who captained the side, we're partnered at centre, with Tom Catterick at outside Warren Fury at half back.

A lot of this side were involved in the A Team game v Sale last week, as lot of our first team were given a rare week off.

Stade named a strong side, including Paul Williams at 15, Digby Ioane at 11 and Morne Steyn at 10. Their forwards were also a good looking unit containing a Georgian and South African in the front row. Stade have had a good start to the season riding high in the Top 14, but already lost to Newport in the first round of European games.

This was going to be a tough game, especially as we had our younger players getting some valuable game time. Apart from the cold it was a dry calm night, which bode well for some good rugby and the 2 sides did not disappoint.

Both sides started brightly as they tested each other out. The first nugget of attacking intent came from Stade as Steyn chipped the ball over the advancing defensive line, but he could not quite re-gather and Hammersley cleared the danger. That sparked Falcons into life and they attacked down the left hand side in front of the clubhouse, making good ground into the Stade 22. There was good handling by both backs and forwards and their reward was to win a penalty at the ruck as Stade got caught with their hands in the ruck.

Catterick stepped forward and although his kick looked good from the West Stand, the touch judges disagreed and the game remained scoreless.

From the 22 drop out Stade regained possession and swept the ball to the last man on the right. Steyn was very prominent in these moves and Stade eventually drew Falcons offside at the ruck, 35 metres out bang in front, and a kicker of Steyn's quality does not miss those: 0 - 3 Stade.

Not deterred Falcons swept back from the kick off and drove at the heart of the Stade defence, Kane Thompson, Dan Temm and Sean Robinson all heavily involved and it drew Stade offside at the ruck. Catterick stepped forward once again, this time 30 metres out straight in front of goal, but he pulled his kick to the left.

The Falcons remained scoreless and almost immediately came under pressure. Stade won a penalty for a ruck infringement that only the Italian referee seemed to see and Steyn brought the first quarter to an end by kicking the penalty for Stade to lead 0 - 6.

We did not deserve to be 2 penalties down having played some attractive rugby, Hammersley and Tait were both hugely influential and made ground with each carry but there was a carry over from the Sale game as we were unable to look after the ball in contact. Apart from his kicking Tom Catterick was becoming more and more influential at 10.

From the restart Stade cleared long and we were treated to a minute or so of kick tennis before Catterick sent a raking cross field kick that rolled into touch on our right in front of the West Stand on the ten-metre line. Stade opted to throw to the back of the line and we read it, hoisting Thompson at the back of the line out. He collected the ball and the the drive was formed.

This was initially stopped and Fury moved the ball to Brookes loitering on the right. Our new international tighthead tucked the ball under his arm and galloped up the right touchline, making a good twenty metres before being brought to ground deep in the Stade 22. Quick ball was given to Catterick, who fed Chris Harris on the 22. The centre set off on an arcing run from right to left spotting a gap outside his opposite number and Harris outpaced the covering Williams to score just to the left of the posts. The try brought the whole group to its feet with a roar; Catterick improved the score and Falcons led 7-6.

This score seemed to wake both sides up and the crowd was offered some excellent running rugby but some great scrambling defence too by both sides. On 35 minutes, pressure on the Stade back line by Tait led to Stade dropping the ball, and as everyone stopped Powell scooped up and popped it to Simon Hammersley who blasted into the right hand corner for a Falcons try and the South Stand erupted with joy. Catterick suddenly seemed to have found his range and kicked a good conversion from wide on the right. 14-6 Falcons.

There was enough time left in the half for Stade to launch one last attack and they drew the Falcons back line offside. As the half ended, Steyn was allowed to kick his third penalty to reduce the half-time score to 14-9.

The mood in the stands was positive because although we recognised the quality of this Stade side, our youngsters were certainly holding their own. It promised to be an exciting second half, which would be needed as the cold was starting to penetrate the extremities.

At the start of the second half Falcons kicked off and Stade cleared back to the ten-metre line. Falcons took a quick lineout and kicked back to the 22. Stade attacked from deep and the ball was knocked lose and seemed to have been lost forward. It was scooped up by Thompson who tried to feed Catterick with a looped pass but that was picked off by Stade and the Falcons all stopped, allowing Stade to run the ball towards their line. Despite the

close attentions of Alex Tait, the referee adjudged that Stade had scored.

Falcons and the crowd complained about a knock on but that was not what the referee saw and Steyn converted well from the right touchline, giving the French side a 14-16 lead.

Falcons roared back and attacking hard round the ruck, managing to make some yards. The ball was moved left and Hammersley The offender was sin binned and Catterick calmly slotted the penalty to take Falcons back into the lead 17-16.

At this point Falcons seemed to have a little nap and allowed Stade to play, which was dangerous and some weak tackling in the Falcons midfield allowed the French side to score down their right, Steyn converting the try with another excellent kick. In a topsy-turvy match, Stade had regained the lead 17-23.

Falcons were not done though and the attacked with both backs and forwards. The hands were excellent and the ball was brought back to the Falcons left. Robinson was found on the Stade 22 with Cato outside him. The blindside threw a massive dummy that the whole of the French side bought and galloped in from the 22 for the try. At this point Hammersley was in the blood bin so Rory Clegg was temporarily on, with Catterick going to the wing and Tait to full back. Clegg was unable to add the extras so the score was a close 22-23.

The game now entered the final quarter and the result was still very uncertain but it seemed that the nous of the French side might see them through.

Hammersley returned to replace Clegg, Catterick returning to fly half. However we were having to defend hard as Stade went in search of he next score. Ruki Tipuna replaced the excellent Fury and added real bite and scurry around the base and his sniping and some barnstorming runs from the forwards as well as Hammersley from full back saw Stade concede a penalty right in front of the sticks.

Falcons tried the advantage but we're unable to break the Stade defences so Catterick took the points for a 25-23 lead.

Not content with this slender lead, there followed some thunderous tackles from Cato and Powell, while in attack Falcons forced Stade into some hurried defence. The ball came lose and Cato was the first to react, picking up the ball and rushing in for the score. Falcons players celebrated while the referee consulted his assistants, who confirmed the score. The crowd celebrated but Catterick was unable to hit the conversion, and the score was 30-23 with ten minutes left.

Stade needed a converted try to draw and the threw everything they had at our defence, but the thin maroon line held firm five metres out and continually repelled Stade. Every clearance Stade ran back, charging into the left corner at the southern end of Kingston Park. On 78 minutes, Stade threw one last attack at us but were bundled into touch. The fans let out a sigh as we thought that was it, but a tired McGuigan overthrew the lineout and Stade attacked once more.

The defence held and Stade lost the ball, but the referee was playing an advantage for a lineout penalty. Back he came for the kick, which Stade put in the corner. However Falcons nicked the lineout and with the clock ticking down drove forwards.

Tipuna passes back for Catterick to clear for the win…BUT NO CATTERICK DROPS IT! Five-metre scrum for the knock on to Stade and there is time. Scrum set and Stade attack the blind side. But the Falcons defence holds firm and forces the turnover that Tipuna clears to touch.

Falcons win a marvelous match, getting a try bonus point, but Stade go home with a losing point too. So Falcons remain unbeaten and top of the group, and the return live on Sky on Thursday night promises to be a cracker!