Falcons v Petrarca European Challenge Cup

By Leipziger
October 19 2006

Italian opposition visit Kingston Park for the fourth time this Friday, with Treviso (twice) and L’Aquila being followed by ten-times champions Petrarca Rugby from Padova, which can be found near Venice in the north-east of the booted country.

Petrarca were the lowest ranked of all of Italy’s European qualifiers, having finished sixth in the Super 10 in 2006/07, with six wins from 18 games and only 5 points advantage over L’Aquila, who we of course destroyed home and away last season, in eighth. Their last match however was a 34-12 home win over last season’s league runners-up Calvisano, to add to previous victories against Almavia Capitolina, Rugby Rovigo and GRAN Parma, four on the trot after the opening weekend’s defeat by a single point, 14-13 at champions Treviso. All of this means that Petrarca lie fourth in the current table, with more than half as many points already after five games as they managed in all of last season.

So Petrarca arrive in England in form, with a few useful players in their squad, notably centres Manuel Dallan and Luca Martin (formerly of Northampton) who have both played for Italy, as have props Michele Matteralia and Michele Rizzo (the Petrarca captain), and fly-half Giacomo Preo. Most familiar to English fans, as well as Martin, will be former Sale and Saracens ten Nicki Little, and former Falcons prop Galo Alvarez Quinones who started three Premiership matches for us at the back end of 2004/05.

Petrarca have met English opposition on ten occasions in their 49-match European history, but are yet to record even a draw, losing four times to Leeds, twice each to Bath and Gloucester, and once against Orrell and Northampton each. Their overall record stands at 12 wins, 3 draws and 34 defeats, with a points difference of minus 600.

The Falcons won’t be bigger favourites to win a match all season, and therefore a good start in Europe is vital and expected.

Newcastle boss John Fletcher has opted to rest several players tomorrow, including Matthew Burke, Tom May and Phil Dowson, therefore Jamie Noon becomes the last remaining Falcon to start every match this season. Jonny Williams and Lee Dickson get a start, whilst Tim Visser returns, Joe Shaw is at full-back and Geoff Parling captains from flanker on his first start of the season.

15 Joe Shaw
14 John Rudd
13 Mathew Tait
12 Jamie Noon
11 Tim Visser
10 Toby Flood
9 Lee Dickson

1 Johnny Williams
2 Andy Long
3 David Wilson
4 Andy Perry
5 Mike McCarthy
6 Geoff Parling (captain)
7 Brent Wilson
8 Andy Buist

Replacements:

Micky Ward
Matt Thompson
Sean Tomes
Ben Woods
Ollie Phillips
Hall Charlton
James Hoyle