A League Match Report:: Falcons A vs Tykes A
By Simon Barnes
April 4 2007
I left my small village in East Durham and headed north to Geordie Land. On the way up on the A1 panic struck - a lane closure ahead that was causing tail backs and it was 6.15pm. With kick off at 7pm I was wondering if I would manage to get to the game! Luckily, I was there in time...
The Falcons kicked off the game attacking John Smiths stand wearing a Pink strip and the Tykes in 04/05 shirt with 06/07 shorts and socks. Newcastle forwards had the measure of the Leeds pack;they were out of the traps first whereas Leeds started the game very slowly.
Cusack had some early fisticuffs with a Falcons forward which went unpunished by ref Dave Pearson, just a gentle word. Leeds put together the first really good move of the game and score the first try - but it was against the run of play. Rauluni released quick ball to Whittaker who fed Tom Rock to beat Ollie Philips with a good dummy on the outside and going past him on the inside. Tackled on the line, Tom got it down for the score. Whittaker misses the extras, but with 15 minutes gone it was 5-0 to Leeds.
Joe Shaw was showing some class and Leeds' backs struggled to get to grips with him but he left the field due to a shoulder injury.
Within 4 minutes Newcastle were back on level terms their try coming on the back of a penalty against Leeds for being offside. Newcastle kicked for touch and reduced the numbers in the line out. A good catch and drive, from the resulting ruck the ball was quickly released to the backs and some nice crisp handling with two missed tackles by Leeds and Newcastle were in at the corner. Again a missed conversion, so the score was now 5 apiece.
Whittaker restarted for Leeds and the ball worked through a number of phases by Newcastle, the ball again released quickly and the Falcons had an overlap on the near side, but a great tackle by Tom Rock prevented what could have been Newcastle’s second try. From the ruck Newcastle’s scrum half tried to make a sneaky break but is halted; the offload was clearly forward but both ref and TJ who were only 5 metres away missed it. I'm sure Mark C would have had something to say about that, for me I think they both “should have gone to specsavers”. Fortunately the Newcastle player is tackled and Leeds steal it from the ruck.
The ball comes to Scott Armstrong who kicks it down field, but the resulting counter attack from Newcastle resulted in their second try. As Leeds were following up the kick Newcastle came straight back at them. Missed tackles and some nice off loads and it was like watching a Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic with Leeds' defence parting like the red sea. A very poor try to concede with the extras added Newcastle led 12-5.
By my watch only two minutes later Newcastle had their third try Leeds again penalised for offside. Newcastle went for the corner and another good catch and drive which had momentum and Leeds had no answers to the drive and were pushed back and conceded a third try after 26 minutes and this time the extras were missed Newcastle lead 17-5.
I hoped at this point we would go down fighting as I didn’t think we had an answer to the power of Newcastle’s forwards.
From the restart Newcastle fumbled but recovered; from the resulting ruck there seemed to be a bit of fisticuffs again but Dave Pearson this time decided to give the Newcastle no 8 a Yellow card. As Phil Dowson was walking off he let off steam with his mouth at the Leeds players. Pearson called him back and called the Newcastle captain over. The result was that Newcastle where marched back 10.
Leeds made good use of their extra man advantage when Scott Armstrong went in for Leeds' second try. Tom McGee with the ball had only a few Newcastle backs around him, and with good support from Scott Armstrong, McGee passed the ball to Armstrong who cut back inside, round two players and scored underneath the posts. At the time I thought he should have gone outside with the two Falcon players closing in but he scored so who cares! A good try that was worth travelling up for alone. Whittaker added the extras. 17-12 - is this the start of the come back? Nothing of note happened in the final 8 minutes of the half. At half time Newcastle led 17-12.
A half time change for Leeds - Peter Wackett replaced Luke Gray at fullback. Wackett was almost in for a try with what would have been his first touch of the ball but the ref blew for a knock on. A few subs 10 minutes later saw Isaacson replace McGee and Andy replaces his brother Tom Rock. Shortly after a yellow card was given to Andy Boyde - can Leeds hold on and for the 10 minutes?
In the second half the Leeds forwards were finding there feet and finally started to match the Falcons but with a man down could they hold out? About 5 minutes passed and Leeds did work the ball up field and a good platform for a maul was formed but the ref blew his whistle he clearly saw something and gave the Falcons no 7 10 minutes so with equal numbers now 14 a side Leeds decided to go for goal. Whittaker took his time and hit it sweetly to take it to 17-15. Leeds clearly think they can win this game.
Newcastle surged forward to try and make sure the game was safe but Leeds leaky defence was sorted out at half time. Some of the last ditch tackles that stopped Newcastle scoring two tries was magnificent. With 15 minutes left to play Max Lewis came on as a straight swap for Boyde who had completed his 10 in the bin. A high tackle about 5 metres within the Falcons' half just right of centre gave Leeds the chance to gain the lead. My heart was in my mouth as I didn’t know if Tom had that sort of distance in his locker; he certainly did and it sailed over Leeds finally took the lead 18-17 and what a fight back!
Newcastle came hard at Leeds after going behind but some great defence with some last ditch tackles and the boot of Whittaker Leeds counted down the clock. Full time Leeds 18 Newcastle 17.
My thoughts on the game
I think the yellow cards did help turn the game but still the players had to do the hard work. The spirit they showed was tremendous as in the first half Newcastle could have run away with it. But they dug deep and nilled Newcastle in the second half. I haven’t been to any Development or A league games but some of the youngsters were outstanding, Whittaker had a very good game; I was really impressed with him at fly half. Luther Burrell and Scott Armstrong had strong games too not to mention Locky and T Rock and two players who I have not heard of played well Tom Denton and Pete Wackett. I can’t wait to see these players break into the first team.
Falcons
Johnny Williams, Rob Vickers, David Wilson, Stuart Walker, Tim Swinson, Mike Mccarthy, Cory Harris, Phil Dowson, Hall Charlton, Gavin Beasly, Tim Visser, Joe Shaw, Patrick Dias, James Hamer, Ollie Phillips. Replacements: Ross Batty, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Robbie Kalbrarier, Eni Gesinde, Ed Williamson, Charles Rayner, An Other (from Falcons website)
Tykes
Tom McGee, Phil Nilsen, Michael Cusack, Tom Denton, Pablo Bouza, Andy Boyde, Sam Stitcher, Mark Lock, Jacob Rauline, Tom Whittaker, Chris Hughes, Luther Burrell, Tom Rock, Scott Armstrong, Luke Gray. Replacements:James Isaacon, Chris Steele, Max Lewis, James Craig, Pete Wackett, Andy Rock, Jono Marshall. (Leeds Tykes website)
Coming next... Simon Barnes grabs a few minutes at the Falcons game to chat to Stuart Lancaster on how the season is shaping up...