Falcons Survive Shark Attack

By Clutch
September 24 2003

For the first time this year I headed to Kingston Park believing Sale would win, but after 90 minutes of frustrating rugby we headed back down the M1 disappointed, particularly after the 5-hour journey home.

Newcastle 9 Sale 8

I must admit I wasn’t filled with confidence when it was announced that Jos was playing at flyhalf. Confidence was soon restored after he slotted over his first kick at goal from a difficult angle after 16 mins. Before this Newcastle had dominated possession, mainly due to the Sale lineout starting poorly. Even so Newcastle offered very little in attack, apart from Stevenson, who made some yardage, but was covered easily by the Sale drift defence. Walder missed a difficult kick from the halfway line, narrowly dropping under the bar. The first points of the game came from a straightforward kick from Walder on 13 mins. The ball squirted out after the Sale scrum was put under pressure. The ball was killed from the resulting kick. Despite Newcastle’s early dominance the scores were level soon after, when Andrews was penalised for not releasing. Moments of quality in the first were very sparse. Titterell and Sheridan both made breaks, but on each occasion Sale failed to capitalise. Baxendell missed 2 kicks at goal, one from a similar position to his first successful attempt, the other about 40 meters out straight in front of the posts. The best move of the game came from Newcastle. Forwards and Backs combined well to set up a fantastic opportunity near the Sale line. As a result Hoyle killed the ball, to prevent a likely try out wide. Gollings kicked the penalty and Hoyle was binned for the offence.

In the 2nd half Newcastle, without the injured Andrews and Walder offered little else in attack. Without Andrews Sale were now able to dominate the lineout, from this Sale were gifted the majority of possession and territory. After presumably some stern words from Mallinder at half time Sale immediately looked sprightlier in attack. After good yards were made by the forwards Newcastle committed too many to the breakdown. The ball was spun out wide and Vaughan Going was left with the easy finish. The resulting conversion was missed. Soon after Newcastle restored the lead with a Gollings penalty from about 40 meters out, having hit the post previously. At 9-8 surely no one in the crowd expected there to be no more points scored. Unfortunately for all Sale fans that was the way it went. Although Sale dominated the rest of the game they lacked the organisation and decision making to break the surprisingly resolute Newcastle defence. Led in attack by Greame Bond, comfortably the best attacking player on the pitch, Sale failed to capitalise against a Newcastle side desperately lacking any confidence. Even with so much possession there were few great opportunities to score. Cueto seemingly went over in the corner, but the try was disallowed for foot in touch. From where I was standing it looked a try, but I didn’t have a great view. Cueto also knocked on, with the try line in sight, after a quick tap penalty from Cairns about 10 metres left of the posts. Sale probably should have gone for the 3, but it would have been no means certain whether Baxendell would have kicked it. Jos also missed a kick in front of the posts about 35 metres out. Frequently, in good attacking possession Sale were penalised for crossing or for misdemeanours in the ruck. On 3 occasions in the second half touch judge Campsall raised his flag to penalise the Sale forwards. On the final occasion Sanderson was binned. Plus points, the Sale forwards again recycled the ball well. Titterrell and Sheridan played well in the 1st half. In the 2nd half Bond broke through tackle after tackle to set up great attacking ball near the Newcastle line. On the negative side it is easy to blame Jos for missing a few relatively easy kicks at goal, but the fact of the matter is that we should have won the game anyway. We lacked the confidence and cutting edge you would normally associated with Sale. Credit to Newcastle, though who defended admirably in the second half. Having said that if I were a Newcastle fan I’d be very worried. I can’t see them winning many games before Wilkinson returns.

MOM Greame Bond