Falcons back from the brink
By Leipziger
April 1 2012
The Falcons rescued their hopes of beating relegation on Friday night by coming back from the seemingly dead against Sale at KP.
9-19 down not long before half-time, and playing something could barely be termed 'rugby' never mind a 'style', the locals were not happy.
But something happened at the break and by full-time, we were 22-19 ahead and back on the Wasp hunt!
Entering his final four games in charge, Gary Gold brought the newly-recontracted Rob Vickers back into the starting lineup after suspension, and Tom Bedford replaced the unlucky-in-fitness Alex Tait. Peter Stringer made a home debut, and James Hudson was fit enough to sit (no doubt agitated) on the bench alongside Adam Balding.
Jimmy Gopperth kicked an early penalty but the ghost of Bates and Tait cast a shadow over our 'play' in the first half. Plenty of kicking, no chasing, no realising that Sale were enjoying running the ball back and us and getting success from it.
Sale scored the opening try on their far right through Tom Brady, and they crossed again when a crossfield kick found James Gaskell in space out on the left.
I am told that Gaskell sat down to avoid being offside ahead of taking the kick, but like me the nearest touch judge did not seem to notice.
Nick Macleod converted the second try.
The Falcons managed to get back into the game with two penalties, but threw away all of that hard work when Rob Miller scored on the half hour, Macleod again converting.
We put some pressure on the Sale line towards the end of the first half, and some in the North Stand thought we had a try but the referee had actually asked for assistance from the TMO, trialled at the non-TV game as part of a Premiership experiment.
The Falcons stayed downfield, suggesting that the fourth official made the correct decision in not awarding a try.
Gopperth reduced the deficit to seven points with a penalty though, so if Gold, Wells and the rest could knock some sense into the team at half-time, there was a glimmer of hope.
In the second half the Falcons' play was far more fluid and controlled, and as a result we dominated possession and territory. Sale never looked like scoring.
10 minutes into the second half the Falcons won a penalty in the Sale 22 and, roared on the rejuvenated South Stand, kicked for the corner. Hudson and Balding raced onto the field.
The captain took the catch, and the Falcons drove for the line. Looking down through a pile of bodies, the referee pointed and blew his whistle, having spotted a touchdown by Tim Swinson.
Gopperth sent over the precious conversion. 19-19, and as the minutes ticked down with no further scores, I couldn't help thinking that this was going to be yet another draw.
With 10 minutes left, Gopperth lined up a penalty on the left. The ball drifted across goal and with no speedsters in the team, we weren't able to capitalise on any potential loose balls.
But the team kept plugging away and the fans kept singing.
Four minutes to go, and another penalty was given straight in front of the posts. Surely this was it.
The ball went high into the night, and then the touch judges' flags followed them!
22-19 with just a couple of minutes to go to keep us in the hunt for survival. All we had to do now was secure possession from the kick-off and not do anything stupid.
The pick and drive was calm and controlled as the seconds dropped away ever so slowly. Finally, the clock was on zero, and Peter Stringer kicked the ball out, sparking pandemonium in the stands.
After the match the Falcons took the applause around the pitch, to a chorus of “We are staying up”.
One member of the rugby media, a Wasps fan, was seen on Twitter yesterday worrying that he will be watching Championship rugby next season. After Friday night, there is still hope!
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