Newcastle Falcons vs Exeter Chiefs Programme

Paddy Johns was from Ballymena in Northern Ireland and
was in his second year as a dentistry student at Newcastle
University, having failed to gain entry to Trinity College, Dublin.
Vyvyan scored the game’s first try on 15 minutes following a
break from Jim Naylor and good work from young scrum-half
Allen Chilten.
Such was his progress on the rugby field that Trinity College
had second thoughts and let him complete his degree in
Dublin, and so he only played one season at Gosforth. Following
his return to Ireland he won 59 caps in the second row and
signed for Saracens went the game turned professional.
Andrew converted from in front and the Falcons had a lead
(10-6) which they would never surrender. Jarvis kicked a third
penalty but the Falcons responded when Richard Arnold was
driven over by his pack after 25 minutes. Andrew could not
convert but the Falcons led 22-9 at the break.
25 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 22,
1998
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 36-16
CARDIFF
With barely a minute of the second half gone replacement
scrum-half Hall Charlton released centre Graham Childs to
score between the posts, and with Andrew’s conversion it was
29-9.
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
The biggest disappointment for the Falcons’ Premiership side
in 1998 was the fact that their stellar team was not able to
test itself against the best in Europe following the English
clubs’ boycott of that year’s Heineken Cup. This undoubtedly
hastened the break-up of that side.
To fill some of the resulting holes in the fixture list the
Premiership clubs arranged home-and-away fixtures against
Welsh sides Swansea and Cardiff.
Cardiff’s visit to Kingston Park enabled director of rugby
Rob Andrew to give some of his younger players a run-out
alongside some seasoned veterans. Cardiff, who had lost
just one of their previous ten matches against Premiership
opposition, included future Falcon Liam Botham at full-back.
Cardiff led early on with two Paul Jarvis penalties in the
opening five minutes before the Falcons realised that they
were at least the equal of their famous opponents. Andrew
narrowed the gap with a ninth-minute penalty before Hugh
Any chance of an unlikely Cardiff fightback was snuffed out
ten minutes later when Arnold crossed for his second try,
Andrew again converting.
On 59 minutes Naylor could again take credit for the assist
as Jim Cartmell scored his first try for the club. Andrew’s
conversion saw the end of the home side’s scoring as they
gave game time to Ed Thorpe, Jamie Noon and Neil Frankland.
The match was in its dying moments when Craig Morgan
scored a consolation try for the visitors, converted by Jarvis,
for a final score of 36-16.
The Falcons team that day was as follows:
P.Massey; J.Naylor (rep. E.Thorpe 62); M.Shaw (rep. J.Noon 62);
G.Childs; M.Wood; R.Andrew (capt); A.Chilten (rep. H.Charlton
38); I.Peel (rep. S.Best 41); R.Horton; M.Hurter; R.Beattie;
H.Vyvyan; S.O’Neill; J.Cartmell; R.Arnold (rep. N.Frankland 69).
RIGHT
JIM NAYLOR
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
50
51