So close to a glorious win
By Leipziger
February 16 2014
Newcastle Falcons shook off a dodgy flight south on Friday to come within a few minutes of recording a first Premiership win at Harlequins since 2000 yesterday.
After two early tries for the home side, former Quin Rory Clegg's boot and a battling try by Alex Tait almost gave the Falcons a glorious victory that would have made a big statement in the relegation battle.
However, it was not to be as Ben Botica kicked two penalties in the dying minutes to win the match for the Londoners with a final score of 18-14.
Dean Richards was returning to the Stoop for the first time since a little-known event in April 2009 and was able to bring in Mike Blair in for a first start in several weeks, while Clegg and Ryan Shortland replaced the injured Phil Godman and Sinoti Sinoti. Scott Lawson returned from Six Nations duty and there was a start for Kieran Brookes.
The Falcons immediately set about taking the game to Harlequins in a way that they had never threatened to do to Bath last week and Shortland had a couple of good runs down the left.
On Harlequins' first attack Botica skewed a penalty attempt wide, a strong easterly wind blowing the ball off course, however after twelve minutes full-back Ollie Lindsay-Hague finished off a flowing move to the right to put the hosts ahead.
Newcastle did not let their heads go down and looked to hit back straight away, but discipline was their downfall. Gonzalo Tiesi, like Clegg and Richards returning to his old club, made a break from the left towards the posts but the Falcons were penalised with metres to go to the tryline.
As the penalties mounted up, referee JP Doyle finally lost patience just before the half-hour and sent away captain Will Welch to the bin for an offence at a maul. Botica went for the corner and once the backs were given their chance to go for the line, Sam Smith squeezed in on the far right, touching down with inches to spare. The TMO judged that the outgoing Quins winger had control as he put the ball on the floor and Botica slotted the difficult conversion.
The Falcons hit back with a quick penalty from Clegg but the fly-half's second attempt rebounded off the post. The Geordie defence managed to hold out with fourteen men until half-time, going into the dressing rooms 12-3 down.
Despite traditionally dropping their game in the early stages of the second half, the Falcons came racing out of the blocks after the restart and put the pressure on Harlequins, missing almost a full side due to injuries and international call-ups.
Within ten minutes, the deficit had been reduced to just three points through two more penalties by Clegg and the small horde of travelling Geordies behind the north goal at the Stoop turned up the noise with a mix of hope and nerves.
The subdued home crowd seemed stunned by the idea that the game might not be an easy five-pointer for Conor O'Shea's side after all. Clegg hit the outside of the right post with his next penalty attempt but the Falcons were very much in the ascendancy, led by drives by Welch and Rob Vickers, while Jamie Helleur also looked dangerous in the centres.
Roared on from block GB, the Falcons spread play left through the forwards and finally the ball came to Alex Tait who carried two defenders to within millimetres of the white.
The winger was tackled short but reached out and just about managed to get the ball down on the tryline. With the help of the TMO, Mr Doyle awarded the score, and though Clegg was not able to add the extra two points, Newcastle had the lead for the first time.
Harlequins stepped up to the challenge and began to hit the Falcons a little harder.Breaking upfield, the hosts were awarded a penalty in the twenty-two with just four minutes to go and Scott Lawson was sent to the bin for the remainder of the match. Botica knocked the ball through the posts to give the Quins the lead again. With the seconds ticking down, the Cockneys kept the ball tight but forced their way into the twenty-two again and, with the clock on zero, were awarded another penalty.
To perhaps the relief of both sets of supporters, Botica kicked three points to give Harlequins an 18-14 win but ensure the Falcons returned north with a precious bonus point that lifts them to eleven points above Worcester in the relegation battle. For the first time in several months, Newcastle put in an eighty-minute performance to be proud of in a league match and with eight games of the season left, five of them at home including the visit of the Warriors, there is now hope that the Falcons might retain Premiership status by their own efforts.
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Give us a little credit please. Those of us who have seen you at The Stoop previously expect nothing of the sort.
Quote:raedarius
Those of us who have seen you at The Stoop previously expect nothing of the sort.
This season is a different matter entirely, just look at our numbers in the Prem Table & you will see what I mean.
Hopefully this will kick of a bit of a revival, by crikey we could do with it.