Big improvement in bonus point defeat

Newcastle Falcons got their first tries in four Premiership matches last night, but a far improved performance was not enough to beat Wasps at Kingston Park.

The defeat was the Falcons’ fifth in a row in the Premiership, but after disappointing performances against Exeter and Harlequins already in December, there were glimpses of the attacking style many Geordie fans have been calling for in an exciting last ten minutes.

A bug in the camp led to Chris Pilgrim making his first league start in over a year and Mark Wilson coming straight back into the starting lineup after injury as Warren Fury and Richard Mayhew pulled out late. Jamie Helleur also started for the first time since the opening day of the season alongside James Fitzpatrick in the centres.

The Falcons began on the attack, stealing a lineout and driving for the line. Fitzpatrick was used as a battering ram from the off but also showed a turn of pace to break through the Wasps defence, but the visitors held out under pressure in the opening minutes and went on the attack themselves.

With possession just to the left of their own posts, the Falcons forwards attempted to pick and drive their way out of trouble and the play moved to just in front of goal. Pilgrim’s box kick was charged down and although Joe Launchbury could not gather and the ball rebounded off the post, Sam Jones pounced to score with the loose ball.

Referee Wayne Barnes checked with the TMO but the decision was that there had been no knock-on by Launchbury and the try stood. Andy Goode kicked the easy conversion.

The former England fly-half added a penalty that Phil Godman could not neutralise, despite the Falcons playing with the wind. Wasps looked in little trouble for much of the first half as the home side struggled to put good possession together and the kicking from hand occasionally got caught in the wind to give Wasps attacking opportunities. Helleur and Alex Tait were forced to track back and save tries.

The score was 0-10 at half-time with Wasps having the wind advantage after the break.

The second forty began in a low-key manner, Wasps continuing to keep possession well and the Falcons unable to impose themselves on the game. Twice in attack, Noah Cato telegraphed attempted dribbles through the Wasps defence on the right, the second going straight into an away player’s stomach and being hacked upfield.

Wasps won two penalties, going to the corner both times, and the result was all-but-confirmed when the outstanding Ashley Johnson finished off a rolling maul on the left. Goode converted.

Within a few minutes Cato had atoned for his error by taking Tait’s pass on the right and taking Elliot Daly over the line with him. Godman could not convert but Newcastle had a first Premiership try in two months and hope for the bonus point.

The 6,000-strong crowd began to get going and Wasps’ discipline seemed to desert them. The TMO made, in the eyes of the home fans, a second incorrect decision when the Falcons did not even get a penalty for a block on a chaser in the 22, the Geordie supporters baying for blood.

The penalties stacked up in the final minutes and finally James Haskell was sent to the bin with seconds remaining. Replacement Mike Blair tapped a penalty and the Falcons forwards powered for the line. Finally, Will Welch dotted the ball down on the white and Mr Barnes, after a good look through a pile of bodies, signaled for a try that gave the Falcons a losing bonus point. Godman converted the score to end the game.

Although this game saw a much better display from Newcastle than previous league outings, a losing bonus point is not really something to be celebrated. More consistent improvement will be needed to get the wins that will fulfill Dean Richards’ ambition of making a real impact on the Premiership this season.