Falcons At 10 - The 1999 Cup Final

By Leipziger
July 23 2005

Our Falcons At 10 series now moves on to the 1998/99 season, starting with a reminder of the big game of that season, the Tetley's Bitter Cup Final.

In a season of turmoil off the field and transition on it, Newcastle never looked likely to retain the Premiership title won in May 1998.  The departures of Pat Lam, Alan Tait and Dean Ryan destabilised the side, whilst emerging players such as Ian Peel, Ross Beattie and Jonny Wilkinson were being integrated in.

         

In March 1999, David Thompson completed his takeover of the club from Sir John Hall for the grand sum of £1, and his faith in keeping the Falcons afloat was rewarded with the team reaching the English Cup Final for the first time in eighteen years, since the defeat to Leicester in the then John Player Cup.

 

The road to Twickenham almost ended as soon as it began, as Bath led 22-6 at Kingston Park in the 4^th round.  However, a Ross Beattie try and Jonny Wilkinson’s boot saw off the West Country side, and West Hartlepool, Saracens and Richmond were dispatched to book an HQ date with Wasps, who had seen off Sedgley Park, Waterloo, London Irish and Gloucester.  Wasps had played in four earlier finals, including the previous year’s against Saracens when they were beaten 48-18, whilst we had also played at Twickenham in 1999, beating a World XV 47-41 in the Sanyo Cup.

 

Due to Rob Andrew’s injury in a Premiership game at Wasps and Tony Underwood being fit enough only for the bench, Tom May played only his seventh senior match alongside Martin Shaw at centre, however the rest of our XV sprung no surprises.

 

In front of 48,000 fans, Wasps raced away with the first half, Gareth Rees converting Josh Lewsey’s try and scoring three penalties, whilst Wilkinson hit two for us.  Although Va’aiga Tuigamala scored a converted try in the second half, Alex King did also, and his drop goal sealed a ten-point win for the Londoners, 29-19.  Our last chance came with around ten minutes left as Inga raced the length of the field, only to be brought down by Lewsey ten metres out.  That was when we knew it wouldn’t be a Geordie day, and Wasps would win their first Cup after five attempts.  They haven’t lost at Twickenham since.

 

By Rob Andrew’s own admission, Newcastle were a team in decline in 1999, and were beaten by much a better team in this final.  But the Geordie fans had had a taste of Twickenham, and we’d be back in two years’ time for one incredible experience!

 

Teams:

Newcastle – S Legg, J Naylor (40, T Underwood), M Shaw, T May, V Tuigamala 1T, J Wilkinson 4P 1C, G Armstrong ©, G Graham, R Nesdale, M Hurter (70, I Peel), G Archer, D Weir, P Walton (70, J Cartmell), R Arnold, R Beattie.

Replacements not used – H Charlton, P Massey, R Horton, H Vyvyan.

 

Wasps – G Rees 4P 2C, J Lewsey 1T, F Waters, M Denney (47, R Henderson), P Sampson (49, K Logan), A King 1T 1DG, A Gomarsall (70, M Friday), D Molloy, T Leota (32-40, D Alexopoulos), W Green, M Weedon ©, S Shaw, L Dallaglio, J Worsley, P Scrivener (59-63, P Volley).

Replacements not used – J Beardshaw, A Black.

 

Referee: S Lander.