A canny day...

This weekend is a combination of two activities beloved of Mrs Jonny and myself  - a Sarries away trip and a visit to Newcastle, a city we know very well and love dearly, the location in the early Eighties for much of what our parents would have referred to as our courting days, largely spent in the friendliest (albeit most crowded) pubs in the UK and some of the best nightclubs I’ve ever had the pleasure of making a terpsichorean fool of myself in, notably the fabled “Julie’s” where in those days you might have spotted the occasional and usually be-permed Newcastle United footballer or even the odd member of Dire Straits. Heady days…  After a relaxing train journey from King’s Cross we arrive at Central Station, check into our hotel and wander out to see how many of our old haunts have survived the pandemic – thankfully we find that our first two destinations have clung on: the café in Grainger Market where a cheap and very sustaining plate of corned beef and potato pie with chips and gravy can still be had, and the Duke of Wellington in High Bridge, once an HQ of the local branch of CAMRA and now fallen on hard times but it’s a place that carries happy memories.

Back at the hotel, having a late afternoon libation in the lounge, we’re told in hushed and conspiratorial tones by one of the staff that “our team” were staying there – and sure enough we look out of the window to see some very familiar figures strolling into the building; we’re later delighted, as we head out for a couple of pints in the Crown Posada (which fans of the original - and best – film version of “Get Carter” may recognise as the pub Michael Caine walks into after he arrives in Newcastle) and what turns out to be a delicious albeit ferociously hot Indian meal, to encounter the ever-genial messrs. Barrington and Koch in the lift, and then in reception we bump into the true gentleman that is Mark McCall who sees our Sarries shirts and interrupts his phone call to walk over and greet us warmly – it’s a nice moment, and it’s good to see him looking well again.

After a fine breakfast on Saturday morning and more friendly greetings, this time from the charming Wray family, we make our way via a coffee shop - and an unscheduled but delightful 15-minute debate about the relative merits of the two rugby codes with an elderly stranger we encounter by the Monument – to catch the Metro out to Bank Foot to meet up with the SSA at the Twin Farms pub near to Kingston Park.

And so to the match – we’re in good spirits after a few pints in the best of company.

Kingston Park, if you haven’t been there, is a very open and windswept ground with two standing terrace “ends” and an East Stand that looks almost like a cricket club pavilion – it’s a stadium I like.  

Falcons are fielding a strong side today featuring a familiar face in former Sarrie Nathan Earle, who is rebuilding what was at Sarries a highly promising career which saw him graduate into the England set-up, followed very regrettably by an injury-blighted few years at Quins, and plays today alongside current England prospects Adam Radwan, Callum Chick and Trevor Davison although Jamie Blamire is away on England duty– and of course there’s dear old Mike Brown, who it seems will not be staying at Falcons after just the one season (as I write it seems that the ambitious Ealing Trailfinders are in the running to sign the man not always affectionately known as Mr Angry).

Sarries have made a number of changes from the squad that squeezed past Tigers last week, with the enforced absence of Mako giving Baz a start, and we’ve lost Nick Tompkins and Elliott Daly to the Six Nations although Nick Isiekwe has stayed with us; Theo McFarland comes into the second row; Roti Segun comes in for Alex Lewington who drops to the bench and our other backline Elliott, Obtaoyinbo, starts at full-back.

The match begins in better weather than had been forecast for Saturday before we travelled north, and Falcons are immediately looking purposeful; Obatoyinbo, who I’m still not convinced about under the high ball (it’ll come), although to be fair he hasn’t had a lot of game time recently, spills his first meaningful catch of the day.

 A Falcons penalty after 4 minutes brings the first points to the board as a well-executed line out and rolling maul gives McGuigan the opportunity to drive over the line near the corner, with Haydon-Wood adding the extras from a wide angle for 7-0 and an early setback for Sarries.

Play continues with Sarries working hard to get a foothold in the game and they push forward, with two penalties, both off scrums, taking them deep into Falcons’ territory, and as the rolling maul rumbles forward what is becoming the inevitable happens as the try-scoring machine that is Tom Woolstencroft seizes his chance and dots down, again near the corner,  for a try which by my reckoning takes him into double figures for the season so far (a glance at The Rugby Paper the following day confirms this); Goode, clearly on kicking duty today although Lozowski is on the pitch (a tweak hindering his kicking perhaps?), calmly slots pill between posts for bring the scores level at 7-7 after 15 minutes.

Sarries’ momentum is lost, however, as the wind picks up and their discipline slips a little, allowing Falcons to regain the lead with two penalties within 4 minutes either side of the 20 minute mark with Haydon-Wood kicking both successfully to put Falcons 13-7 ahead with barely a quarter of the match gone.

The setback seems to kickstart Sarries into injecting some urgency into their play, with Billy Vunipola prominent in driving the side forward, and enjoy a good spell of possession over the next few minutes as they work their way towards the Falcons 22.

Goode tries a cheeky chip though the Falcons line, which Segun chases but in an identical situation to the second leg the playoff last June, Brown gets there first in the try area and knocks the ball away: after TMO checks, we’re awarded a penalty try on 25 minutes to take the score to 13-14, whilst poor old Mr Angry is dismissed for a ten-minute breather in the sin bin.

Sarries again lose momentum, with a Falcons penalty off Earl, again ably dispatched by Haydon-Wood to edge the home side ahead 16-14 as we approach the half-hour mark.

Davies gets us briefly excited with a darting run out wide but knocks the ball on.

Shortly afterwards, a Goode penalty restores Sarries’ lead to 16-17 with 5 minutes left of the first half, which draws to a close with Sarries having in my view just about edged the encounter in terms of quality of play whilst not showing their best, but Falcons are making us work hard in what I’m finding an absorbing game – no moments of magic  so far but I’m enjoying it.

Disappointingly, I can’t find any Bovril for my customary half-time refreshment.

Sarries begin the second half like they mean it, and we’re treated to more expansive rugby than we’ve seen so far as Sarries sweep across field with a lovely bit of play setting up Obatoyinbo to jink ahis way cross the line on 44 minutes (I still think he’s better as a winger). Goode, remaining on kicking duty, adds the extras and at 16-24 there’s a bit of daylight appearing for the between the sides for the first time.

Falcons won’t lie down, though, and apply pressure of their own, trying to capitalise on errors from Sarries, culminating in the excellent McGuigan adjudged to have been held up.

A few minutes later, Falcons so gain some reward for this strong spell when their penalty is kicked to the corner, and in a very similar set-up to their try in the early stages of the game,  McGuigan, clearly in a competition with our own try-scoring hooker, emerges from the ensuing maul to score his second of the afternoon on 53 minutes, but with the previously accurate boot of Haydon-Wood letting him down to keep the score at 21-24.

There’s a feeling of slight apprehension, as Sarries are not getting on top of things…and Falcons have another man held up…

At this stage of proceedings as we move into the latter stages of the game, things are getting a little cagey and a kicking match ensues as both sides look to find some space; eventually, though, something has to give and it’s to the benefit of the boys in red.

A Sarries penalty is kicked to the corner, and Falcons defend the maul well – but the ball finds its way to Segun who scores in the corner on 73 minutes. The conversion is missed but at 21-29 Sarries have the try bonus point and might just see this one home now with Goode controlling proceedings.

Around this time Wray, having gone off earlier to be replaced by Christie, comes back on for Billy Vunipola.

The last, and very fitting, action of note in the game is created and finished off with a flourish by Goode, who’s had a superb afternoon – firing a perfect 50:22 (borrowed from League, I know, but I like it) deep into Falcons’ half, the skipper is set up by Davies to slide over the line on 78 minutes…..and then slots over the conversion to take the score to 21-36 with the game ending but moments later.     

An absorbing game….

It’s been a solid performance by Sarries after a slow start, and while the scoreline looks convincing Falcons have pushed us up to the latter stages, and I for one wish a decent side, a lovely club and the friendliest set of fans you could meet all the best for the rest of the season.

The standout player has clearly been Goode, but Billy Vunipola has put in another mighty shift, Woolstencroft has been his consistent self, Swinson I think we should try and persuade to do another year, and Davies has had a very good game.

Jonny Browne

TEAMS:

Newcastle: 15Brown, 14 Radwan, 13 Wacokecoke, 12 Lucock, 11 Earle  10 Haydon-Wood, 9 Schreuder, 1 Davison 2 McGuigan, 3 Tampin, 4 Peterson 5 Farrar        6 Robinson, 7 Basham, 8 Chick (capt.)

Replacements: Maddison, Brocklebank, Mulipola, Lockwood, Montgomery, Nordli-Kelemeti, Connon, Wright

Sarries: 15Obatoyinbo, 14 Maitland, 13 Lozowski, 12 Taylor, 11 Segun 10 Goode (capt.), 9 Davies, 1 Barrington, 2 Woolstencroft, 3 Koch, 4 McFarland, 5 Swinson    6 Wray, 7 Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola

Replacements: Pifeleti, Mawi, Wainwright, Isiekwe, Christie, De Haas, Morris, Lewington

Referee: Ian Tempest