First try of the season is not enough
By Leipziger
September 30 2013
The Falcons are finally off the mark in the Premiership table’s try column, but Tom Catterick’s first-minute score was not enough to prevent them from dropping to eleventh place.
Gloucester held on in the face of a late forwards’ onslaught for their second win of the season, and their first in the league at Kingston Park since December 2007, while Newcastle had to be content with a losing bonus point.
Matt Thompson, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Ally Hogg and Mike Blair returned to the Falcons’ starting lineup, as did Scott MacLeod after Carlo del Fava pulled out pre-match. Hogg played a key part in getting the Falcons off to the best possible start, giving the scoring pass for Catterick to round the Gloucester defence and touch down the Falcons’ first try of the Premiership season.
Rory Clegg converted, and a second try beckoned after ten minutes when Noah Cato hacked on a pass from Adam Powell on the far right but was tackled off the ball by a defender. With the home crowd baying for blood, referee Andrew Small surprised everybody by giving a knock-on in Gloucester’s favour. The medium-screen replay suggested the decision was incorrect.
The Falcons were putting in their best performance of the season so far, tearing into Gloucester’s forwards and also holding their own against one of the league’s top backlines. Clegg even extended the lead with a penalty, but Freddie Burns soon reduced the difference back to seven points.
Clegg’s second penalty, from a maul that was a strong weapon for both teams all day, was again followed by Burns having a chance himself, but the England man missed his effort.
Gloucester’s backs began to press ever further forward and though James Simpson-Daniel was foiled just short of the line, Rob Cook squeezed over on the far right. The touch judge appeared to indicate a foot in touch, but the TMO disagreed and awarded the unconverted score that made the half-time scoreboard read 13-8.
The away side were dominant in the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, a fact that Dean Richards would later blame on the Falcons’ relative lack of fitness. The defence held firm with some top tackles from the likes of Alex Tait and James Fitzpatrick, and Gloucester kicked to the corner in search of a second try. Eventually, they decided to content themselves with another Burns penalty.
However, the visitlors went straight back onto the attack. With Gloucester stretching the play right, an overlap developed unnoticed on the left and Noah Cato was isolated, Jonny May racing in to give his side the lead for the first time.
The scores were leveled by replacement Phil Godman, on for Clegg, after Gloucester were penalised in front of goal as the Falcons searched for a reply to May’s try.
Catterick had a chance to return the Falcons into the lead but his long-range penalty flew wide, and two kicks from Burns gave Gloucester a six-point lead heading into the final minutes.
Newcastle found their belief again and Fitzpatrick almost powered his way over the line, before the forwards battered the Gloucester line for several minutes. Finally, with the play inching over the line, several home players dived in to help the drive but the referee considered the ball held up and blew for full-time. The whistle brought contrasting emotions – great relief for Gloucester, great frustration for the Falcons who had let a golden opportunity for a win slip through their fingers.
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