Bottom Gun
By Leipziger
April 10 2011
As if anybody needs reminding, our Falcons are now bottom of the Premiership.
I paraphrased Goose from Top Gun after the Middlesex Sevens back in August, and I do again but for a far more important incident: “Newcastle Falcons regrets to inform you that the team lost because they were stupid.”
Well, not the whole team, but then what prompted Goose to say that wasn't his fault either. With the clock on zero at the end of the first half, we were 20-7 up and after a Leeds attack we were given a penalty in our own 22. I'd like to say everybody in the stadium would have kicked the ball dead at this point but that isn't true, however it would seem a no-brainer to me. But no.
A Falcon (allegedly Jeremy Manning) played on and we went upfield, Leeds attacked again and scored a converted try. Yes there was probably a forward pass (why don't we just scrap that rule and be done with it?) in the build-up but it should never have got that far.
So now Leeds were just six points behind, their half-time team-talk would have been positive and their morale would be up, while Alan Tait will have had to waste time dealing with this inexplicable action.
No point making the rest of the squad nervous by dressing down the guilty party in front of them, but hopefully Tait will tear a strip off Manning, or whoever it was, in private.
Considering Leeds' second try was the last action of the first half it is possible to say that if it hadn't been scored we would have won, and I kind of believe that. But then there were still another 40 minutes to score more points than Leeds, and we should still have won. In the second half our scrum fell apart, our lineout was inconsistent, and there was not enough aggression at the ruck. Rugby is a difficult sport and these things just make it harder.
Micky Young and Manning scored tries either side of a Steve Thompson score in the first half and the Falcons seemed to be dealing quite easily with Leeds' attacks, helped by two penalties by Jimmy Gopperth, but Peter Wackett's try on half-time turned the game.
Within ten minutes of the restart Leeds were ahead following a penalty from Adrian Jarvis and a try by Gareth Hardy, leaving us 20-24 down, but there was plenty of time left. The Falcons kept up a strong effort and Gopperth kicked a penalty, before adding another with just over ten minutes to go to put us ahead.
Jarvis knocked over a drop-goal, answered by a Gopperth penalty as the lead kept changing hands in the last five minutes. Not since Tom May's kick against Gloucester in January 2009 has a penalty been celebrated so fervently at KP.
However, with just two minutes to go, Jarvis again lined up to kick and let fly. The charger didn't quite get there, and despite it looking from the South Stand like the ball had spun wide, the referee raised his arm.
To be honest though, someone in the West Stand with a much better view than me said the kick was good. The Falcons never regained the ball and Leeds ran the clock down to secure their priceless win.
If there is one thing to hold onto right now, it is that at least Leeds' winning score was not a (bonus point) try, as every point in the league is crucial. We are one behind the Cardigans, which is not insurmountable, win our next four games and, barring weird bonus point and points difference/wins combinations, we are guaranteed to stay up.
Just like winning at Headingley hadn't guaranteed us staying up, so this result on its own hasn't sent us down. It has turned Mission Difficult into Mission A Lot More Difficult, but I expect there will be more twists to come.
We are now under pressure, but a win on Friday and Leeds will suddenly be under pressure again at Wasps next Sunday.
Time is running out though, and eventually either we or Leeds will run out of games to overhaul the other.
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Just want to say a top match today that's what top flight rugby is about!!
Neither team deserve to go down and I believe that in my head and heart but that's the way it is.
Best of luck and its a shame its ourselves or you going down.
The first Leeds Tykes child mascot...#leedswasps0203season. #cheersbentos
Quote:win our next four games ......
Ah, the old leipy optimism is back. Has Steve shared the happy pills with you leipy?
Quote:nick holder
Why all the doom and gloom, you have 3 home matches left out of 4 to play. Do you really think that you will get no more points this season??
Based on this seasons form, I doubt that they'll pick up any wins based on who's to come!!
It's a shame for a fine club like Newcastle Falcons. The AP needs team such as ours (Leeds Carnegie) and Newcastle Falcons.
It's sad that the AP is going to lose one next season, but I'm hoping it's the Falcons as opposed to us!!
And truly believe that it will be!!
Quote:TouchLine
Or fail to get off the launch pad?
I can see you picking up a win at home to bath and 1/2 losing bonus points.
Unfortunatley for you, we will beat wasps and quins so it wont change anything.
You will enjoy the championship, there is some nice grounds and some good tallent down there. Plus a chance to re-group and watch your side win more than they lose. Its a good experience so look forward to it.
Lads need the backing of people more than ever , surely people want to get behind them and cheer them to stay up??