Young Falcons fly into 7s finals

Newcastle Falcons showed customary form in the Premiership Sevens qualifying group in Darlington on Saturday, winning all three games and securing a place in Friday’s finals at Harlequins.

7,000 fans packed the Northern Echo Arena’s south stand after delays to the new artificial pitch at Kingston Park forced a change of venue, and a party atmosphere cheered the Falcons to the Stoop along with the night’s runners-up Leicester.

Falcons manager Mark Laycock named a squad made up predominantly of academy players, bolstered with experience in the form of Lee Smith and captain Tom Catterick. The latter was named player of the evening and led by example, being involved in so much that was good about the (official) hosts’ play.

The first match saw Newcastle take on Leicester, managed by a temperamental Geordan Murphy in front of Richard Cockerill and Paul Burke in the stands. The Tiglets went ahead through an early tries, and the two sides traded tries to leave Leicester 14-12 up at the break, Chris Harris and Andy Davies on target for the men in black while Catterick just failed to touch down as he was tackled over the tryline.

Catterick got his first score of the night by capitalising on a long break by Sean Brown down the left, finding a gap and then converting his own score. Leicester hit back with their own third try, but with a minute to go Catterick broke around the left to give his side a 26-21 victory.

London Welsh, as two years ago featuring a brought-in side, showed potential to repeat their group victory of 2012 with a 15-14 victory over Sale and then just losing 17-14 to Leicester, before the Falcons returned to the field against northern rivals Sale.

The Sharks were never in the game and Newcastle quickly got themselves a decent lead with tries from Simon Hammersley and Smith, the latter receiving the ball from a quick penalty five metres out and darting through a sleepy Sale defence.

In the second half Ben Morris, Brian Tuilagi and Harris built up a bigger lead before Josh Fowles got a late consolation for the Lancastrians, the Falcons all-but securing a finals place with a 27-7 win.

Leicester ensured Sale’s night would end miserably and with just one point with a 31-12 win in the penultimate match, a scoreline that would put the Tiggers in the final if Welsh failed to beat the Falcons with a bonus point.

The Exiles dominated the early stages of the night’s final game, knocking on on the line to deny themselves the opening try, but the Falcons held out and began to attack. Catterick looked to have scored on the far right but was judged to have dropped a good in touch, however the Falcons stole the ball from the resulting lineout and Harris scurried over by the posts, Catterick converting.

On half-time, Welsh captain and former academy Falcon Aaron Myers broke down the right and only a tackle by Smith to force a knock-on preventing a try.

In the second half, Catterick and Hammersley dropped tackles to allow Welsh to get a try back, though the score went unconverted, and the Falcons sealed victory when Davies chipped over the Welsh defence for Catterick to touch down. Tom Wilson’s conversion ended the night’s scoring.

Newcastle and Leicester now go on to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday to face the other group progressors Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Gloucester, London Irish, Harlequins and Northampton. The Falcons will be looking to reach a third final in four attempts in this competition, and repeat their victory of 2011.

Selection may be a little different this Friday due to the first team’s friendly in Bayonne the previous evening, however fans will be hoping that Saturday’s stars Catterick, Hammersley and Dan Temm will be back to give the Geordies the best chance of winning the season’s first trophy.