Bottom of Table Battle
By Mally (30/11/02)
November 30 2002
This weekend Newcastle Falcons face Bristol Shoguns for the second time this season - just three weekends on from when they last met. At the Memorial Ground, Bristol ran in six tries to the Falcons’ solitary try, and won the match 38 – 10. Hopefully the return match will be a different story...
Recent matches have tested Falcons' fans loyalty and faith in the team. Four defeats in the last four games have landed Falcons in the relegation spot at the bottom of the table.
Having said that it's not disastrous, not yet anyway. As I write this the results of Saturday’s games are in. With London Irish, Bath and Saracens all losing, the winners of the Falcons v Bristol clash on Sunday will leapfrog a couple of places up the table.
The biggest question is which Falcons team will show up? I'm hoping it's the one which had the self belief and ability to beat Sharks, in the process scoring four tries including those two pushover tries, the one which rediscovered it's pride, passion and commitment at Saracens last weekend.
New signing James Christian's presence in the squad and Stuart Grimes' return from international duty should bolster the pack. In the backs we're missing Jonny Wilkinson so we'll need a big game from the rest of the "young guns" – Messrs Noon, Stephenson, May and Botham have a lot riding on their shoulders.
My guess is that it'll be a tough match as Bristol are a team which knows the way to the try line. However it's time Kingston Park was returned to it's rightful owners, and became a fortress once more. We as fans need to get behind the team and cheer them on - they know what they have to do, but as Liam Botham told the Evening Chronicle:
"It's up to us... and we will be giving it everything we have but I would ask the fans to get behind us as it really does make a massive difference."
So...
Come on Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bristol Shoguns v Newcastle Falcons (10/11/02) - Match Report
