First Impressions

By Ridley
September 2 2002

Andrew Blades has only been working with the Falcons pack for a month .... and what a difference he has made. Against Wasps we rediscovered the rolling maul which went missing last year and altogether it was a much tighter and more organised unit which will only get better.

He may even be able to teach Epi to defend!

It was heartening to see the forwards working as a unit. Even without the injured Richard Arnold the back row of Taione, Dowson and Dunbar kept the illustrious Wasps trio busy .The pressure they were able to exert was one of the main reasons why the Wasps penalty count reached 26 and gave Wilkinson the platform to put over eight matchwinning kicks.

It wasn't until the final quarter that we exerted any consistent pressure. When we did we still looked unlikely to score any tries.

I'm not convinced that May and Noon know what Jonny is planning. Is he going to kick, use his new found shimmy, or send one of those heartstopping looping passes out to his wide men?

Judging by the looks on Noon's face he hasn't a clue. The quality of service from the scrum half is undoubtedly a factor, and it may be no coincidence that we attacked more when Grindal replaced Charlton with 30 minutes to go. Perhaps Blades has a mate who is a Backs coach.

Botham had a solid game at full back even if he hasn't the outright pace to break from the back whil Joe Shaw looked the part in defence but didn't get many chances in attack.

Falcons: Botham, Shaw, Noon, May, Stephenson, Wilkinson, Charlton [Grindal 50], Peel [Hurter 75], Brotherston [Thompson 75], Hurther [Ward 40], Grimes, Vyvyan, Taione, Dowson, Dunbar [Devonshire 60].

Wasps: Lewsey [Rudd 40], Rosier, Abbott, Denney, Logan, King, Howley, Dowd, Greenuing [Gotting 70], Green [Molloy 70], Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio [capt].