Preview: Newcastle Falcons 2006-7 (a)

By Worried of Whitton
November 9 2006

This week sees the first of a run of three Friday night matches taking us through to the end of the month. NEC Harlequins travel ‘oop North to play Newcastle Falcons on Friday November 10th kick off is at 19.45.

This is the second of three very important “must win” matches, and confidence remains very high with team and supporters alike. Fortunately this match is being broadcast by Sky Sports so those unable to travel, have an opportunity to see the match. Newcastle, however, will probably get more revenue from the tv deal than they will through the turnstiles.

Last Friday, Newcastle had the honour of the weekends’ lowest Premiership crowd a disappointing 6,140 to see them and play league leaders Bristol. A cold night is forecast and with live tv coverage the Falcons can expect an even lower crowd this week, with few Quins fans being able to travel. Friday night rugby is NOT the way forward. Whilst I accept the Autumn internationals take precedence on a Saturday during November, Friday night matches are now being used cynically by a number couple of premiership clubs, to reduce the away support. Newcastle have actively marketed this match in the hope of attracting a crowd of 10,000, an attendance that would be easier to achieve if played on a Saturday afternoon,

Despite their splendid win last Saturday against Northampton, Harlequins remain in eleventh position whilst Newcastle also remained stationary in tenth spot after their surprise narrow win over league leaders Bristol 26-21. The winner of this match will certainly improve their league position. Quins win has kept them in touch with those clubs above them and a win this week will see Harlequins catch them up. It is still very close in the bottom half of the table, and Worcester could inflict another away defeat on Northampton on Friday night.

The bottom half of the Premiership table currently looks like this;

 

Just how good was last Saturday, I m sure we are all still walking around with broad grins  :o) Despite a shaky start the team grew in confidence to comprehensively dismantle the threat from Northampton, which finally evaporated after Gomarsall crossed the line for his first Premiership try a quartered shirt. The team certainly seemed to gel as the match progressed and there were some fine individual contributions to the overall team work. As this report was written earlier this week before any team announcements were made. After last weeks performance following the European Cup matches, and no reported injuries on Saturday night it is hard to imagine any significant change to the starting line up, that started against Northampton. Mehrtens played for the second XV on Monday night against Cambridge University and it is rumoured that Abbott, Strettle and Skinner are ready or about to be ready to return, I can assume that the only changes to the team will be to the substitutes. It is comforting to know that Dean Richards problems are now focusing on team selection from a much wider squad of fit players.

Newcastle themselves have also had a poor start to their season and the departure of Rob Andrew to HQ is probably a contributing factor along with the absence of Wor Jonny, or should that now be Poor Jonny :o( The man himself made another come back last week, and played the full 80 minutes as he inspired his feathered team mates to hang on to their lead and win the match. The press reported that playing his first game since a knee injury two months ago, he looked sharper than ever and more inventive with ball in hand but continued buthis goal-kicking, failed to live up its previously impeccable standards as he missed what could have been two crucial conversions when Bristol threatened to snatch victory at the end of the match.

At half time Newcastle were 23 -6 up and looked to be running away with the match, It was to be a game of two halves and Falcons were unable to add any further points to their half time tally as Bristol slowly but surely added the points throughout the second half. Bristol so nearly won the match at the end but had to be content with their loosing bonus point. The strong performance from their forwards helped Newcastle to victory. The Bristol pack dominated the second half and the Newcastle line out was very poor throughout as were the scrums, and this is where a Quins should be able capitalise providing that Mr. White is consistent when refereeing the scrum.

Alongside Lee Dickson with Toby Flood and Matthew Tait, who was not considered fit enough for England, outside, the effervescent Wilkinson was able to orchestrate Bristol's first defeat of the season. He contributed to two of the three tries the Falcons scored.  Pre match there was a fear that the fly half wouldn't see the ball, given the expected superiority of the all-conquering Bristol pack, but the Falcon’s forwards gave a totally committed display, and Quins will need to be wary. I was reported that “Jonny looked really sharp and inventive after his lay-off but he's still too brave for his own good. He kept putting in big hits on the Bristol forwards when discretion would have been the better part of valour”. Therefore it was no surprise to learn “Wor Jonny” did sustain injury in the form of kidney damage during the match, and has been forced to rest for at least one month before returning to any form of training. This is huge set back not only for Newcastle but also for his many fans across the Rugby community in England. The traveling Harlequins supporters will be desperately disappointed that he is not playing. The last time the two teams met in March 2005 at The Stoop Jonny sustained an injury early in the first half and had to be helped from the field. Quins won that match 39-23. He seems to be so unlucky with injuries over the past three years. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

A five point win against Northampton was sweet a similar win against Newcastle will be even sweeter to prepare us for Worcester next Friday. The last time these two team met at Kingston Park, Newcastle squeaked a very close win by 22 – 21. With Quins on the ascendance, and Newcastle’s reduced in strength by England call ups for Flood and Noon and that injury to Wilkinson, we have a very good chance of securing a win, but any game away from home on a Friday night is not going to be easy. Newcastle will have Burke and Tait on duty, and Dickson who put in a useful performance in the backs, against Bristol

A number of Quins supporters are gathering in the Cabbage Patch in Twickenham to watch the away match, with a home atmosphere, with a pint of London Pride in hand. Quins by 7.

Awae the Quins!

 

NEC Harlequins:
Team to be confirmed

Newcastle Falcons:
team to be confirmed

Referee:  Chris White