Away the Lads....

As is well-documented, the trip to Kingston Park is a firm favourite in the Browne household with our connection to the North East going back more than forty years (in fact, a significant part of  what we elderly types fondly refer to as our courting days were spent in the pubs and clubs of Newcastle) meaning that a few days in the Toon and environs thereof is something we need no excuse for, plus the simple fact that Kingston Park, albeit a very open ground that can be “Baltic” in the winter months, is one of the friendliest rugby venues you could wish to visit – the people in those parts are a joy at any time and the warm and welcoming Falcons supporters entirely reflect this: it was with enormous sadness, then, that I heard one fan I was chatting to before the game express fears that the club might be lucky to see out this season given the current financial climate in rugby - fears that I fervently hope prove to be unfounded, not just for the wider implications but for those lovely people who deserve a thriving and successful club.    

In keeping with the need to manage post-international period player returns, there were but three of our England World Cup cohort in the squad for this game – Elliot Daly (at full back) and Theo Dan both starting, with Billy on the bench– although both of our new Pumas, Juan Martin Gonzalez (starting) and Lucio Cinti (bench) would make their debuts; a very late re-jig was required when Callum Hunter-Hill suffered an injury during the warm-up, and Ollie Stonham stepped up from the bench to start.

The Falcons squad featured two ex-Sarries in full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo and tight-head Eduardo Bello, the latter being part of a strong Argentinian contingent now plying its trade at Kingston Park, with no fewer than 4 Falcons players having represented Los Pumas in France.

After enjoying the very reasonably priced Street Eats hospitality in the West Stand, we repaired to our seats, buttoned up our coats and looked forward to an entertaining ancounter…

Falcons, seeking their first win of what already looks like a tough season, started in strong and positive fashion, and it was no huge surprise when they took the lead after only 4 minutes; set up by a “good as a penalty” raking 50:22 a line-out on 5 metres created a period of pressure before de Chaves breached the Sarries defence to cross the line, Connon finishing the job he’d started with a conversion for 7-0 and Kingston Park celebrated wildly.

Sarries remained calm after the early storm and Lewington briefly threatening with a break before assistance to our cause was provided by Obatoyinbo, who had started well, was yellow-carded after 11 minutes for a deliberate knock-on.

Falcons’ early rhythm having been disrupted, Sarries started to take control and on 12 minutes a typically strong maul allowed Dan to score the classic Saracens Hooker’s Try with Lozowski adding the extras to take the scores level at 7-7.

Sarries then stepped things up even further, with first Maitland and then Dan – compounding the notion that he is a direct cross between Schalk Brits and Jamie George – getting us all excited with highly promising breaks.

Radwan, who I recall was reportedly a target for Sarries earlier in the year, fired back with a break of his own but was somehow stopped.  

Sarries continued to apply pressure and eventually, on 25 minutes, and following a strong maul, the ball was worked from the left out to the right side which set up Daly to cross the line in the corner, and following Lozowski’s conversion from out wide it was 7-14.

As we passed the half-hour mark it looked like a case of when rather than if Sarries would double their lead and sure enough, on 33 minutes, the phenomenon that is Dan emerged from a maul and offloaded to Daly, who deftly set up Lewington to surge across the whitewash with Lozoswski again calmy slotting the ball between the posts from a wide position to take Sarries 14 points clear at 21-7 as the half neared its close.

Our boys weren’t done yet, though, and with a minute left of Act One, the try bonus point was secured as in another display of “Maul Power” Dan was on the sharp end to score his second try of the game and the last action before tea and orange slices was Lozowski making it 4 out of 4 and the teams ran into the warm at 7-28.

Despite the early flourish from Falcons, who understandably looked a little dispirited as they trudged off to regroup, Sarries had controlled the half with Dan looking every inch the next huge star to emerge from our academy, Gonzalez seeming to have slotted seamlessly into life at StoneX, ditto Willis, and it was hugely encouraging to see that the poor showing in the Premiership Cup and that terrible result and performance at Sandy Park was well and truly being moved on from.   

Refreshed and warmed, Sarries set about their task as the second half began, and with 43 minutes on the clock the scoreboard ticked up further as Lozowksi’s assured boot kicked a penalty to take matters to 7-31 and the game a little further away from Falcons.

Falcons weren’t quite ready to play only for pride with over half an hour still to play, and from a strong maul of their own, Byrne forced his way over the line to chip away at Sarries’ lead for 12-31 on 51 minutes, after an unsuccessful conversion.

Falcon’s flurry was to be short-lived, though, as Sarries regained their control of the game and the scoreboard 5 minutes later when Daly was again instrumental in things, setting up play nicely for Willis, surely an early and strong contender for Newcomer of the Season, to power his way over for 12-36, Lozowski blotting his pristine copybook with a missed conversion.  

Shortly afterwards, Lewington went very close to taking Sarries past the 40-point mark after being set free by Daly but the ridiculously speedy Radwan seemed to appear from nowhere to force our onrushing no. 11 into touch.

On 64 minutes, and with Falcons still striving to get something out of the game, Stonham was shown a yellow card for a high tackle although this didn’t ultimately hinder Sarries unduly and, while still down to 14 men we passed the 40-point mark courtesy of a typically rampaging break from Tompkins and some lovely work from Simpson, now on for Van Zyl, who set up Gonzalez to dive over for his first try in Sarries colours (well, the white, black and grey away kit anyway). Goode, having taken over kicking duties following Lozoswski’s departure, extended Sarries’ already commanding lead to 12-43 with just under 10 minutes left.

Sarries were now managing out the game in customary fashion but we were not to know that perhaps the best and certainly most unexpected was still to come.

In the dying moments of the game Manu wove his way towards the line to score a fine individual effort and looked thrilled about it– he did the same last season at Cinch Franklin’s Gardens (or whatever it’s called) as I recall -    and Goode’s second successful conversion brought Sarries' score to the half-century at 12-50, making another dent in the points difference ravaged by the two opening defeats - in an 18-game season and a competitive league likely, this could be key.  

All in all a very satisfactory away performance, with the “takeaways” being that our new signings are settling in very nicely and our squad now looks to have a strength in depth which, dependent on injuries, suspensions and the perennial question of who receives call-ups for the Six Nations, could see us through another successful season and perhaps help our prospects in Europe - and Elliot Daly just oozes class.....

Although it didn’t materially affect the outcome of the game, I was pleased to see Manu score – there are those including me who have questioned whether he has it in him to make the grade as a top-level fly-half, although clearly Mark McCall has faith in him; there have in mitigation been injuries that have restricted his progress and as I’ve said before it can’t be easy running out onto a pitch with that surname on his back.  We’ll see.   

Next up - Quins.......what can i say?

TEAMS:

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Radwan, Orlando, Jennings, Stephens; Connon, O'Sullivan; Brocklebank, Blamire, Bello, Rubiolo, de Chaves, Lockwood, Cross, Chick (capt).

Replacements: Byrne, Brantingham, McCallum, Hawkins, van der Walt, Stuart, Hutchison, Stevenson.

Saracens: Daly; Maitland, Lozowski, Tompkins, Lewington; Goode (capt), van Zyl; Mawi, Dan, Clarey, Stonham, Tizard, Gonzalez, Christie, Willis.

Replacements: Hadfield, West, Judge, Knight, B Vunipola, Simpson, M Vunipola, Cinti.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe