Newcastle Match Previews - December 2002
Your choice ?
By Billy Hamilton
December 19 2002
After back-to-back games against Newport, we now play two such fixtures against Newcastle Falcons either side of Christmas --- Billy Hamilton reports....
Newcastle Falcons vs London Irish
Powergen Cup
Sun 22 Dec at Kingston Park - KO 14:30
London Irish v Newcastle Falcons
Zurich Premiership
Sun 29 Dec Madejski Stadium - KO 15:00
Match Previews
By Billy Hamilton
After back-to-back games against Newport we now play two such fixtures against Newcastle Falcons either side of Christmas.
This Sunday we begin our defence of the Powergen Cup which we won on that never-to-be-forgotten day 20th April 2002. On the following Sunday we entertain them in the return game in Zurich premiership.
Since our last meeting with Newcastle their performance in the Premiership has seen them slip below us to 11th place. We started the rot in early November by beating them on their own turf by 24 points to 16. This was their first home league defeat in nine games. The previous team to have achieved that feat was league leaders Gloucester. Since then they have lost a further 5 consecutive league games and the first leg of their Parker pen Cup-tie against Italian side Treviso. They did win the return leg last week to qualify for a quarterfinal tie against Saracens
During the period of the Autumn Internationals the Falcons showed that they miss the presence of Jonny Wilkinson. His continued absence through injury is also affecting the team. To try to halt their slide Newcastle have being buying in the Southern Hemisphere but these new acquisitions will no make their mark until the New Year.
Since our last game against Newcastle we have had two fine displays against Gloucester in which they won, a draw against Bristol and that magnificent win over the Tigers. Coming off our great win against Newport last Sunday we will be hoping that, helped by the "Craic on Tour" arriving on the "Champagne Express", we can continue with our improved form and progress in the cup. Then at home with the aid of a reanimated "Sammy the Siren" we can go into the New Year with a much healthier league position.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL FROM THE DONAGHADEE BRANCH. SEE YOU IN EDINBURGH.
Summary Of Meetings Between The Teams In The Premiership
| Played | 13 | |
| Newcastle Falcons Won | 7 | 58.3% |
| London Irish Won | 6 | 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 | Gary Armstrong | 4 tries |
| Newcastle Falcons top points scorer | Jonny Wilkinson | 80 points |
| London Irish top try scorer | Justin Bishop | 2 tries |
| London Irish top points scorer | Barry Everitt | 75 points |
| Previous Meetings | ||
| Date | Result | Venue |
| 03 Nov 2002 | 16 - 24 (W) | Kingston Park |
| 08 May 2002 | 33 - 28 (L) | Kingston Park |
| 23 Sep 2001 | 22 - 18 (L) | Madejski Stadium |
| 01 Apr 2001 | 42 - 35 (L) | Kingston Park |
| 05 Dec 2000 | 17 - 19 (W) | Madejski Stadium |
| 18 Apr 2000 | 28 - 23 (L) | Kingston Park |
| 03 Oct 1999 | 8 - 56 (W) | The Stoop |
| 02 Jan 1999 | 14 - 16 (W) | The Avenue |
| 27 Sep 1998 | 21 - 23 (W) | Gateshead |
| 11 Jan 1998 | 46 - 13 (L) | Kingston Park |
| 01 Nov 1997 | 35 - 19 (L) | The Avenue |