Newcastle Falcons vs London Irish Match Preview


By Billy Hamilton
October 30 2002

In some sports, notably Skating and Diving, rewards are based on performance. In others, such as Ski Jumping, it is a mixture of achievement and performance. Unfortunately in rugby performance counts for little and if you don’t score more points than your opponents you don’t win........

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.....This has been our trouble this season.

Newcastle Falcons vs London Irish
Sun 03 Nov at Kingston Park - KO 14:30

Coming up to the end of the first third of the season we can take pleasure in some performances over the last few weeks but still the wins are not coming. It looks as if we might be going to Bristol in two weeks time for a bottom of the table clash. I have been trying to be positive this season but as the weeks go on this becomes harder. It is a good job that the "R" word is banned otherwise I could fill another couple of paragraphs on that subject and our prospects next season

This week we travel to Newcastle to take on the Falcons who have lost only one home league game in the last eight. That was the 19-22 loss to leaders Gloucester on 15 September. We have won only one Premiership game away from home since last November - a 29-24 victory at Leeds last March. Newcastle will be keen to win to maintain their position in the top half of the table. We must beware the boot of Jonny Wilkinson who needs just 17 more points to become the third player  after Tim Stimpson and Paul Grayson to clock up 1000 Premiership career  points.

As the preview on the Newcastle site says, we have the players capable of winning games we just need them to start doing so.


  Summary Of Meetings Between The Teams In The Premiership
 

Played                                           12
 Newcastle Falcons Won                7                      58.3%
 London Irish Won                         5                      41.7%
 Drawn                                           0                      0%
 Biggest Win for Newcastle Falcons    46 - 13                11 Jan 1998
 Biggest Win for London Irish         56 - 8                 03 Oct 1999
 
 Newcastle Falcons top try scorer vs  London Irish          Gary Armstrong         4 tries
 
 Newcastle Falcons top points scorer  vs London Irish     Jonny Wilkinson        80 points
 
 London Irish top try scorer vs  Newcastle Falcons            Justin Bishop          2 tries
 
 London Irish top points scorer vs  Newcastle Falcons       Barry Everitt          75 points
 

  Previous Meetings
 Date                  Teams            Result Venue              

 08 May 2002    Newcastle Falcons vs    33 - 28 Kingston Park      
                   London Irish

 23 Sep 2001    Newcastle Falcons vs    22 - 18 Madejski Stadium   
                   London Irish

 01 Apr 2001    Newcastle Falcons vs    42 - 35 Kingston Park      
                   London Irish

 05 Dec 2000    Newcastle Falcons vs    17 - 19 Madejski Stadium   
                   London Irish

 18 Apr 2000    Newcastle Falcons vs    28 - 23 Kingston Park      
                   London Irish

 03 Oct 1999    Newcastle Falcons vs    8 - 56 The Stoop          
                   London Irish

 02 Jan 1999    Newcastle Falcons vs    14 - 16 The Avenue         
                   London Irish

 27 Sep 1998    Newcastle Falcons vs    21 - 23 Gateshead
                   London Irish

 11 Jan 1998    Newcastle Falcons vs    46 - 13 Kingston Park      
                   London Irish

 01 Nov 1997    Newcastle Falcons vs    35 - 19 The Avenue         
                   London Irish