Newcastle Falcons vs Northampton Programme

Walder’s fourth penalty extended the lead to 19-14, but
with a minute of injury time played Bath were awarded a
penalty when Epi Taione was deemed to have killed the ball.
Astonishingly, Bath elected to kick for goal rather than to
touch, from where a converted try would have given them
victory.
Although Barkley was successful with the penalty and the
referee played a further four minutes of injury time, the
Falcons’ defence held firm.
The teams that day were as follows:
Newcastle Falcons:
D.Walder; T.May; J.Noon; M.Mayerhofler; M.Stephenson:
P.Godman; H.Charlton (rep. J.Grindal 20); I.Peel (rep. D.Wilson
41); N.Makin; M.Ward; G.Archer; C.Hamilton (rep.P.Dowson 58);
J.Dunbar (rep. E.Taione 73); W.Britz; H.Vyvyan (capt).
Bath:
M.Perry (rep. R.Blakey 71); A.Higgins; A.Crockett (rep. G.Knott
66); O.Barkley; B.Daniel (rep. J.Williams 54); C.Malone; M.Wood;
D.Flatman; D.Humphreys (capt) (rep. L.Mears 52); D.Bell (rep.
M.Stevens 39); S.Borthwick; R.Fidler; A.Beattie; M.Lipmman;
I.Feaunoti.
Whilst Walder’s goal-kicking compensated for Wilkinson’s
absence, Wilkinson’s own kicking was playing a key part in
England’s stuttering progress to the World Cup final.
Going into the tournament as favourites, Wilkinson had kicked
16 points in an 84-6 victory over Georgia and a further 20
points in an unconvincing 25-6 victory over South Africa.
On the day that the Falcons played Bath, England faced Samoa
and almost came a cropper. They trailed by two points going
into the last 15 minutes and needed late tries from Iain
Balshaw and Phil Vickery to see them home 35-22.
Wilkinson kicked 15 points with three penalties and two
conversions to add to an earlier try from Neil Back and a
penalty try.
The rest, as they say, is history as Wilkinson’s 100th minute
drop goal – adding to the seven drop goals he kicked en-route
to the final – provided rugby union with one of its most iconic
images.
10 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 27, 2013
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 13-11 LONDON
IRISH
Later drama was again the order of the day as the Falcons,
who were finding life far from straightforward on their return
to the Premiership, secured their first home win of the season.
They had already gone down to Bath (0-21) and Gloucester (16-
22) at Kingston Park, and to Leicester (6-31) on the road. Their
sole successes were at Sale (15-14) and Worcester (16-11).
In foul weather and with the Newcastle United v Sunderland
game being shown live on TV just 4,766 turned up to watch
a game which did little to enthuse the hardy souls who had
made the effort to attend.
There was a spark of enterprise from Irish to open the scoring
in the 12th minute when swift inter-passing between Topsy
Ojo and hooker David Paice provided the opportunity for Ofisa
Treviranus to cross for a try which David Humphreys was
unable to convert.
Humphreys then missed a penalty which would have given the
visitors the lead once again.
The night’s real drama came with seconds remaining on the
clock when Irish were awarded a penalty on the ten-metre
line. Humphreys had been replaced by Shane Geraghty who
twice lined up the kick only for the ball to fall off the tee.
On the third occasion a colleague held the ball securely in
place, but under pressure from some of the Falcons, referee
Greg Garner ordered Geraghty to get a move on. Hurried into
finally taking the kick, Geraghty’s effort fell short and the final
whistle sounded.
The teams that day were as follows:
Newcastle Falcons: A.Tait; T.Catterick; D.Barnes; A.Powell;
R.Shortland; R.Clegg (rep. P.Godman 56); M.Blair; R.Vickers (rep.
G.Shiells 56); S.Lawson (rep. G.McGuigan 56); O.Tomaszczyk
(rep. K.Brookes 52); C. Del Fava; F.McKenzie (rep. W.Welch 61);
D.Barrow; M.Wilson; A.Hogg (capt).
London Irish: T.Ojo (rep. D.Armitage 50); A.Lewington;
F.Mulchrone; E.Sheridan; S.Tagicakibau; J.Humphreys (rep.
S.Geraghty 72); T.O’Leary (capt) (rep. D.Allinson 52); J.Vapp;
D.Paice; L.Hala’vatau (rep. J.Hogan 60); B.Evans; I.Gough;
B.Cowan; O.Treviranus; C.Hala’ufia (rep. J.Sinclair 61).
For the record, Sunderland beat Newcastle 3-0.
Two penalties from Rory Clegg nudged the Falcons in front,
but a Humphreys penalty on the cusp of half-time meant that
Irish had the advantage 8-6 at half-time with the wind at their
backs in the second half.
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
The game’s third quarter did little to excite but the Falcons
gradually got on top despite Humphreys’ second penalty
stretching the Irish lead to five points.
The home side responded with a raft of replacements and,
after going close several times through the forwards, the
backs took over as a swift pass from scrum-half Mike
Blair allowed centre Adam Powell to cross for the try - Phil
Godman’s conversion putting the Falcons ahead 13-11 with 15
minutes remaining.
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
Adam Powell
50
Jonny Wilkinson dropping THAT goal
51