Goodbye?

By Leipziger
April 20 2009

After a good first half which ended with a 14-0 lead, our Falcons yesterday threw away the chance to finish the home season on a high by losing to Bath, our first home league defeat of 2009. Like our season, it could have been better, but if Bath had had a decent kicker it could’ve been much worse. With the defeat ending any hope of seventh place, it looks like Brive and Valladolid again in Europe next season, while the inquiry into three successive defeats / four losses from five is surely underway at KP following our improvements in February and March. Carl Hayman and Brent Wilson were late withdrawals from Steve Bates’ SV, allowing Russell Winter a first league start of 2008/09 ahead of his retirement, while David Wilson got an early chance to show his new employers his abilities at tighthead. Tom May missed an early chance to put the Falcons ahead with a penalty, but a clever kick in behind the defence when Micky Young spotted Danny Williams on the right saw the winger race onto the ball and score, the try being confirmed by the TV official and May’s conversion soaring over. Bath were unable to reply with Butch James missing several penalties, including some quite simple ones, while Alex Tait almost scored in the left corner  It looked good on the credits on Sky but perhaps the highlights will show different, indeed a forward pass has been suggested. Our second try came from a quick tap on the right of halfway and Young outpaced the Bath defence, May again converting for a 14-0 lead. We didn’t necessarily pull up any trees in the first half, but played well enough and I didn’t think we were in any particular danger.  Bath threatened through Matt Banahan and Andy Higgins but their chances came to nothing. Overall, there seemed no reason we couldn’t beat Bath at KP for the first time since 2003. The visitors came out slightly early for the second 40 and immediately began taking the game to the Falcons, camping in our 22 for much of the rest of the afternoon. It took us a long time to even get into the Bath half, and even then it was only a few metres from a kick which they fielded no trouble, however the scoreboard remained at 14-0 with James’ half-time replacement Ryan Davis also having a poor kicking radar. But the breakthrough finally came around the hour with Michael Claassens going over from close range on the left, and though the score went unconverted, Davis did land the conversion of Shontayne Hape’s try on the far right just minutes later to really get Bath back into the game. Davis made no mistake with a penalty soon after as well and Bath went ahead for the first time, punishing our indiscipline which had dogged us in the second half. We didn’t really look like scoring in the final few minutes, our only real chances were two grubbers which saw Bath obstruct without penalty and a third which presumably the Falcons thought the referee might penalise, but it didn’t happen, and Bath ate up time with collapsing scrums and slow play before finally kicking the ball out after the clock hit zero. And that gave the West Country team a 14-15 win, keeping their playoff hopes very much alive. So that’s it for another season at Kingston Park, where it’s been a pretty average year – the horror of Sale, Irish and Wasps, the promise of Northampton, the tension of Worcester and the glory of Gloucester and Leicester. SEVEN home defeats in all competitions however is a poor return, and we will need to improve this to make any progress next season. For now, those of us lucky and / or mad enough to be going to Quins on Saturday have the chance for one last hurrah and (hopefully) a bit of fun in the sun.

Bath come back to keep KP run going

Discussion started by FalconsRugby.org.uk , 20/04/2009 14:24

FalconsRugby.org.uk
20/04/2009 14:24

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SouthFalcon27
20/04/2009 14:58

Great report Leipy

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Leipziger
21/04/2009 06:42

Sorry about the formatting folks, had to type it ultra-quick yesterday afternoon at the end of the office day before heading to the kitchen while my gaffer kept ringing me about setting up a new job.

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Mike-s
21/04/2009 09:54

chatting to a couple of yer fans after the game and they seemed to agree 2 tries , one gifted due to stupidity ( then well taken opportunity it ha to be said ) one gifted by stupid pen ! had we had a kicker ! ifs buts and maybes
good luck on sat

COME ON YOU BATH
!!!!!!!
BATH, BATH, WHEREVER WE MAY BE WE ARE THE BOYS FROM THE WEST COUNTRY , AND WE'LL BEAT YOU ALL WHOEVER YOU MAY BE , BEAT YOU ALL FOR THE WEST COUNTRY !
Mike-s, in exile in Bridgwater

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Mike-s
21/04/2009 09:55

oh and meant to say awesome defensive effort from yer lads

COME ON YOU BATH
!!!!!!!
BATH, BATH, WHEREVER WE MAY BE WE ARE THE BOYS FROM THE WEST COUNTRY , AND WE'LL BEAT YOU ALL WHOEVER YOU MAY BE , BEAT YOU ALL FOR THE WEST COUNTRY !
Mike-s, in exile in Bridgwater

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