By Leipziger
January 11 2015

Newcastle Falcons achieved a first try bonus point at home in the Premiership since September 2007 today to all-but secure top flight rugby in 2015/16. Rock-bottom London Welsh were put to the sword 38-7 and now sit twenty points behind the Falcons and London Irish.

The Falcons scored six tries in all, and had the bonus point wrapped up after about half an hour before a low-key second half only saw two more scores, as Welsh put up some spirited but ultimately fruitless resistance.

Dean Richards recalled Sinoti Sinoti, Simon Hammersley, Juan Pablo Socino, Rob Vickers and Ally Hogg for the game that many had predicted to be a relegation decider several months ago, and now looked like an absolute must-win for London Welsh, sitting on a single point at the bottom of the table.

Welsh included former Falcons Pete Browne and Tom May, the latter captaining the visitors on his last game at Kingston Park before retiring, and on the day he was inducted into the Falcons’ 100 Club. The Newcastle legend received a well-deserved cheer as he left the pitch post-match.

On a bitterly cold day, the two sides spent the early minutes of the game getting a feel for each other and the heavy wind, but once things settled down the Falcons quickly took control with a try by Sinoti from close range on the far left. The second score also came quickly, as Vickers touched down at the bottom of a rolling maul on a similar spot, Tom Catterick converting.

When Mike Blair broke through a gap in the Welsh defence just after the twenty-minute mark and scored behind the posts, the game was effectively over as a contest and home fans’ thoughts turned to how quickly the bonus point score would arrive. 

However, the Exiles hit back and Nick Scott rounded the Falcons’ defence on the far left to score a try that shocked Kingston Park.  The Falcons went back on the attack though after 32 minutes Will Welch peeled off the side of a maul on the right and scampered over the line to score the bonus-point try. 

There were opportunities for the home side to go further ahead in the dying moments of the first half, as first Scott Lawson and then Hogg were missed in good positions metres from the line, but the Falcons had to be content with a 24-7 lead at half-time, and will have lamented not being further ahead. 

The second half was scrappy for a long time as the rain lashed down and replacements disrupted the Falcons’ flow. Olly Barkley’s introduction for Welsh brought a new fluency to the visitors’ back play, but they rarely made deep inroads into the Falcons’ danger area.

The crowd had quietened down after a rowdy first forty but came to life when Hogg raced down the right and fought through a tackle to touch down in the far corner for the fifth try. Catterick made a mockery of the conditions to hit the touchline conversion. 

Eric Fry and Alesana Tuilagi brought power from the bench while Chris Harris looked to add his pace to the Falcons’ attack, but the final score did not come until three minutes from the end. Catterick, capping another lively game, steamed down the far left to get the try his performance deserved. The new fly-half converted his own try to give the Falcons a 38-7 victory and banish any fears of relegation come May.

Player ratings: S Hammersley 7, S Sinoti 9, A Powell 8 (C Harris 7), JP Socino 7, A Tait 7 (Alesana Tuilagi 6), T Catterick 9, M Blair 7 (R Tipuna 6), R Vickers 7 (E Fry 7), S Lawson 8 (G McGuigan 6), K Brookes 7 (JP Orlandi 6), C Green 7 (K Thompson 6), Furno 6, M Wilson 9, W Welch 8 (R Mayhew 6), A Hogg 7.

Joy of six for bonus-point Falcons

Discussion started by FalconsRugby.org.uk , 11/01/2015 21:45

FalconsRugby.org.uk
11/01/2015 21:45

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nursepete
12/01/2015 11:02

Thanks for this report Leipy, just one point - Furno only gets a 6?He was everwhere and is starting to show his international class,
he was close to man of the match for me with Catterick, Sinoti, Welch and Hogg.

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Leipziger
12/01/2015 11:36

I thought Furno gave away a few penalties and was getting a bit shirty at times - maybe I was remembering his yellow against Saints, but I thought he needed to calm down a bit.

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Falconfan
12/01/2015 11:40

A 6 for Furno is a travesty. He was totally dominant in all aspects of lock play. Certainly deserves a 9!!

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aidanb
12/01/2015 12:11

I thought SinSin and Powell were excellent in the backs with the others being very good.

I thought Blair kicked too much and Catterick had a great game.

The front row were immense in the loose, Furno was just brilliant and Welch seems to be getting better and better - so much so that he was close to being better than Wilson and i am beginning to wonder why I ever called out for Saull to be in there.

Hogg is having a very good season and his try was sensational.

If Tuilagi gets a 6 for missing one tackle and rubbing his hands and stamping his feet to keep warm then I hope Furno gets a Citing commissioner review to uprate his score.

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pityacker
12/01/2015 12:46

Have to agree re Furno and personally if it hadnt been for the sensation that was Sinoti Sinoti I would have had him as a contender for man of the match , been superb starting the last 2 games even after his yellow last week.

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Gosforth
12/01/2015 13:04

I've heard it said both here and in the national media, KP is now a lovely place to spend an afternoon. Good family atmosphere and win, lose or draw it is very entertaining stuff these days

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Leipziger
12/01/2015 13:44

Well, we all have different opinions, nowt wrong with that.

Quote:

aidanb
If Tuilagi gets a 6 for missing one tackle and rubbing his hands and stamping his feet to keep warm then I hope Furno gets a Citing commissioner review to uprate his score.

Rating Tuilagi 6, like most of the other subs, was because I didn't notice him very much, either positively or negatively.

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AFalcon24
12/01/2015 14:08

Furno is a great player but I feel he does give away to many penalties at times but in the lineout a really demon.

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