Samurais cut Falcons down to size

Our Falcons' Middlesex Sevens campaign ended at the semi-final stage for the second year in a row after two promising results were negated by a Samurai Internationals side that knocked us back down every time we threatened a comeback in the last four clash.

Led by new signings Rob Vickerman and Charlie Amesbury and the lively Rob Miller, Newcastle put a youthful Leicester team away before destroying the Help For Heroes side, but the semi-final was a bridge too far.

In terms of housekeeping (literally) and for those who care, the day started well for me as I saw it was cloudy – knowing Tracywilko and I would be sitting in the North Stand I had tried to source a new cap at work last night, having lost my old one while having a spring clean the other month, but was unsuccessful. Fortunately the sun didn't shine too much, pretty much perfect weather actually.

Missed my train to Waterloo by a few seconds, but that was no problem and we arrived at HQ (last time I used that moniker for Twickenham as for some reason I don't like it) just as the Army and Bath were starting the competition at 10am. The Army were easy winners, before London Irish knocked out Gloucester.

Champions Harlequins were third up against the Kukri White Hart Marauders, “probably the best pub team in the world” according to the programme, and they had a titanic battle that will sadly be remembered more for a five-minute hold-up in the first half for what looked like a serious injury to Quins' Jono Ross, stretchered off with what was later suggested to be an injured shoulder.

The game was 17-17 with two minutes left and the deadlock was only broken by Kameli Vuadreu pouncing on a loose ball and stealing the win for his side 22-17.

Saracens were the next team to book a quarter-final place, against Worcester, while ULR Samurai and Leeds (assisted by a try from new signing Andy Gomarsall) defeated Northampton and Wasps respectively ahead of the first of (hopefully) four main events of the day, Newcastle v Leicester at 12pm.

Against a team packed with academy players I was quite optimistic that we could beat the Tigers, and we quickly went 19-0 up through two tries from the sharp Charlie Amesbury and another from Rob Miller, who converted the first two scores but not his own. Alex Lewington pulled a try back on half-time, Luix Roussarie converting.

In the second half Leicester attacked early on, looking to get themselves back into the tie, but on the break Tom Catterick turned the Leicester defence and secured our place in the quarter-finals proper. Chris Pilgrim had a chance to extend the lead but was put into touch at the key moment.

It didn't matter, with our 24-7 victory booking a last-eight match against the popular Help For Heroes, who were 29-21 victors over Sale in the final first round match. Even if we were to lose our second game, at least we'd be knocked out at 3.20pm now instead of 2pm, so I thought as I realised just how tired I was after working the last three nights.

The Plate quarter-finals saw wins for Bath, Harlequins, Northampton and Sale, the latter beating Leicester with a try in sudden death extra time.

Back to the competition proper, and crowd favourites the Army were defeated 12-17 by London Irish despite scoring the first and last tries of the match, and the Kukri Marauders followed their fellow invitational side out of the tournament, going down 19-26 to Saracens. The Samurai Internationals ensured an invitational presence in the last four by beating Leeds soundly 33-17.

And finally at 3pm (I was so tired I spent a lot of the time counting down to the Falcons' next match, sadly) we took to the field again, this time in the rather nice white/grey kit, to face Help For Heroes, who had looked strong against Sale.

However, it was Amesbury again who opened the scoring with an unconverted try, before the lanky Peter Browne pounced on a loose ball and was driven over the line to double the lead. Miller converted the third try, which he scored himself under the posts, and trial scrum-half Harry Peck, who must be one of the shortest players I've ever seen, completed the 22-0 half-time lead following a good run by Amesbury.

Captain Rob Vickerman broke through the Heroes' defence to score the fifth try on the right, Miller converting, before Help For Heroes scored a twisting consolation. It was only a consolation though, as Josh Afu scored on the break, and Chris Micklewood's missed conversion was academic with the scoreline reading 34-5, booking us a Samurai battle in the semi-finals.

Before then, Harlequins and Sale both progressed to the Plate final, neither getting much resistance from Bath or Northampton respectively. London Irish were the first side to qualify for the main final with a tricky but overall comfortable 17-12 win over Saracens, and their opponents would either be our Falcons or the Samurai Internationals.

As with our previous two games, we went ahead early through an unconverted Rob Miller score, but Collins Inerja's try converted by Tim Walsh put us behind for the first time in the competition. Inerja's run through three tackles allowed him to set up Julien Palmer for a second try, and at half-time the Falcons were 14-5 down and looking shaky.

Vickerman, putting in a captain's innings, set up Amesbury after breaking through a high tackle and Miller's conversion got us back into the game early in the second half, but unfortunately it didn't last with Inerja taking advantage of a two-on-one to score his second converted try of the game.

The long-haired Aaron Myers again reduced the deficit with a around two and a half minutes to go, the conversion hitting the post didn't matter as at 21-17 a try would still put us ahead. It seemed certain that the next try would win the game, and unfortunately it came from the Samurais after they stretched us back and forth across halfway and with Amesbury wrong-footed in defence, Willy Bishop was able to score and secure his side's place in the final with a 28-17 victory.

It was disappointing to lose after we'd showed so much promise in the first two matches, but this is only a friendly tournament after all and it had been a good workout for our lads, and suggested that some of our new signings are in good shape.

Sale withstood a fightback of sorts from Harlequins to win the Plate final 12-24, and in the final of the competition proper London Irish ran into a 26-0 lead against the Samurai Internationals, before a threatening second half comeback, however the third try to make the score 26-19 came after the clock had reached zero. Irish were not to be denied their first Middlesex Sevens title.

So although ultimately the day didn't see the Falcons win silverware, it was still good fun as always at this event, although those involved in the four-person (apparently) fight in the North Stand might not agree. The streakers on the other hand provide a cheap laugh.

And it all just heightens the anticipation for the real business getting underway in three weeks' time.