Newcastle Red Bulls
The Miracle
By Leipziger
April 2 2010
The Falcons pulled off their best home performance of the Premiership season on Wednesday night to take a giant leap towards safety. Just like last season, this year's revival began (hopefully) against Gloucester at home.
A try from Tom Biggs and 20 points from the boot of Jimmy Gopperth saw our boys gain four precious points and lift us seven points ahead of bottom spot, and with the teams down there all still having to play each other, we are now in a strong position.
Not that the result makes a win tomorrow at Harlequins any less important of course.
James Hudson and Tim Swinson made way for Mark Sorenson and Ed Williamson in Steve Bates' lineup, with Filipo Levi moving to lock and Josh Afu also coming into the side alongside forgotten and Bath-bound Tom Biggs.
The Falcons started off well and Jimmy Gopperth, who must have got some new boots for Valentine's Day as he has kicked so much better since the end of the cup break, knocked over an early penalty. Roared on by a vocal following, the Falcons demonstrated early a commitment to playing rugby the way we all know it is best for them to do.
On the quarter-hour, a backs move found Biggs out on the left and the winger showed his undoubted talent to finish off and score a rare Newcastle try, Gopperth knocking over the conversion.
Two Nicky Robinson penalties cut the deficit, but Gloucester rarely looked like scoring a try as the home players put in some superb tackling all over the field, more than making up for Sunday's farce. The biggest chance was probably when Micky Young had to carry into touch as Lesley Vainikolo chased down a kick on the left.
Gopperth kicked a second penalty to round off probably the best half of Premiership rugby KP had seen all season, and then extended the lead to 13 points with two more kicks early in the second 40.
Tane Tu'ipulotu could also have forced a try when chasing down a Gloucester defender who had received a quick throw on the try-line, but couldn't make the tackle and the Cider Boys cleared. Tim Swinson and James Hudson were also brought on to bring fresh legs into the strong pack.
Gloucester replacement Tim Taylor found a gaping hole in the Falcons' defence to waltz through for a simple try just before the hour, but Robinson's conversion was to be their last score of the night.
More tries would have been nice but Gopperth did the right thing but kicking two late penalties over and though he missed his last attempt it mattered little. The last 20 minutes, which we thought might go on forever, turned out to be quite comfortable in the end.
Sorry for the lack of details, but I had a fair whack to drink last night and like most people was just caught up in the ecstasy of this oh so vital win.
It's amazing what happens when you keep the ball isn't it? For months we have been saying it, and just like last season, when it finally happens nobody (except probably the Master) is surprised that the team perform better and actually win.
This morning the table has a much healthier look to it from a black point of view and Sale's game with Worcester tomorrow could well turn out to be the relegation decider. Hopefully our team realise they cannot now rest and that more wins are necessary, particularly at Sale, and don't let all that good work last night go to waste.
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Stumbleupon02/04/2010 23:46
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So nice to read a happy & positive report Leipy, and I hope that beer tasted good.
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