Oh, my life!

By Leipziger
March 10 2007

The Falcons survived a terrifying disallowed try from Saracens’ Rodd Penney to ensure a 20-14 win tonight which moves us up to ninth in the table and all-importantly maintains a nine-point advantage over Worcester.

Over 6,000 fans at Kingston Park stopped dead as the visitors scored what would have been a winning try, which came from a quick throw which the touch judge pointed out should not have been allowed. Oh, the relief!

Showing numerous changes, especially in the backs with three England men missing, the Falcons went ahead early in the game when a long kick caused confusion in the Saracens defence and Geoff Parling took the loose ball to go score from ten metres. Loki Crichton converted, just, as the ball bounced over off the crossbar from out wide.

That was almost it as far as the first half was concerned for home fans, as the Watford side took a stranglehold on the game and went ahead with a penalty from Glen Jackson and then a try from Paul Gustard as the home faithful made their opinion of referee Rob Debney’s decisions known in rather nasty terms.

Two further penalties from Jackson took Saracens into a comfortable lead, as his side dominated possession and territory until Census Johnston was sin-binned for a high tackle near the end of the first half whilst your reporter was in the bar, waiting to be served beside three decked-out away fans propping up the bar, chatting over their pints. Why?

Anyway, from the penalty, man-of-the-match Crichton weaved his way in for a try just to the left of the posts, duly converting to level the scores at half time.

The Falcons made little more foray into the opposition half in the second period than they had in the first, relying on the boot of Crichton to relieve pressure. Our (current) favourite Samoan kicked two further penalties to put us into a six point lead, but it was always under threat as Saracens attacked strongly, Jamie Noon making one particularly spectacular tackle to deny the Fez Boyz from five metres.

Newcastle did make more progress later on in the match but couldn’t find another score. This looked like it might not matter, as for most of the last quarter hour of so the game remained camped around the halfway line. The Falcons were looking to eat up the time left, but a Saracens lineout with seconds to go gave them one last chance…

As the teams lined up, a quick throw saw centre Rodd Penney break through a number of Falcons players, whose first-up tackling had been suspect all night, and score through the posts. With Worcester having won at Sale, the Geordie fans saw Premiership rugby flashing before their eyes. However, those same eyes became focused on the referee and touch judge, who were deep in discussion…

The indignant look on one Saracen’s face told the story – and the lineout would have to be retaken! It wasn’t over – but all was not lost! Saracens again attacked, before finally the Falcons won a decision and kicked out, for a seventh successive home win which ensures the relegation battle becomes a four-way fight, ahead of tomorrow’s Bath v Northampton match and our huge 8-pointer at Sixways a week tonight.