First try
Hollow victory
First try
By Leipziger
December 3 2006
The Falcons yesterday failed to make their target of a bonus point win, however it was academic anyway as Sale defeated Llanelli 21-5 in Stockport to seal their place in the semi-finals of the EDF-Energy Cup and leave us with the non-consolation of second place in Group C.
First try
December 3 2006
The Falcons yesterday failed to make their target of a bonus point win, however it was academic anyway as Sale defeated Llanelli 21-5 in Stockport to seal their place in the semi-finals of the EDF-Energy Cup and leave us with the non-consolation of second place in Group C.
John Fletcher made twelve changes to the Newcastle side (only Loki Crichton, Jason Oakes and home debutant and new captain Joe McDonnell surviving the cull), including Mark Sorenson and Russell Winter in the starting XV for the first time. The scratch Harlequins team, playing for experience rather than the points as they had no chance of qualifying, went ahead early on through an Andrew Mehrtens penalty and it wasn’t long before winger Adam Thompstone went over on the right for the evening’s first try.
Newcastle finally came into the game with a couple of good chances for Tim Visser, including one from a switch kick from the returning Toby Flood, who was halted by a strong away defence intent on salvaging some pride from this year’s Cup campaign. Visser it was who finished off an excellent move which began with England international Mathew Tait making a 40 metre break from his own 22 into the opposition danger zone and Crichton delayed a ball to our favourite Dutchman who was on hand to score in the right corner.
Toby Flood converted and as the Falcons gained a foothold in the game and put together some attacking play, and on the half hour much-maligned lock Jason Oakes forced his way over from ten metres to put his side ahead, before Anthony Elliott telegraphed a sweeping defensive kick into touch and Thompstone dived on the ball to score his second try of the day. I could swear that the ball was dead, but the referee is the judge. The home side couldn’t hit back before the break, and Harlequins were 14-15 ahead after 40 minutes as were the Albanians 8-5 at home to their Welsh opponents.
The introduction of Andy Long and Eni Gesinde at half time did not make much impact initially, as Harlequins dominated the opening stages of the second period with a good chance before Mehrtens kicked his second penalty to extend his team’s lead on 48 minutes. The Falcons’ lineout was again letting them down when breaks were made forward, and further changes were made in search for two more tries.
A run from Anthony Elliott, who was moved to full-back, upfield allowed replacement John Rudd to fight his way over just after the hour for the third try which put the Falcons ahead 21-18 after Flood’s conversion, and the hosts battled on for the next try which would achieve the target of four scores. A good chance was wasted when debutant Mark Sorenson stole a Quins lineout on their own line, but the Falcons conceded a penalty quickly and the visitors cleared.
Mehrtens missed a penalty from halfway in an attempt to get his side level with ten minutes left, and the game ended with an anti-climax as it was discovered Sale had won and therefore the result didn’t matter as the Falcons missed out on the semi-finals. Only 3,448 turned up, a damning statement on this farce of a Cup which I’m sure few Falcons or Harlequins fans will be sorry to see the back of for another year.
Newcastle finally came into the game with a couple of good chances for Tim Visser, including one from a switch kick from the returning Toby Flood, who was halted by a strong away defence intent on salvaging some pride from this year’s Cup campaign. Visser it was who finished off an excellent move which began with England international Mathew Tait making a 40 metre break from his own 22 into the opposition danger zone and Crichton delayed a ball to our favourite Dutchman who was on hand to score in the right corner.
Toby Flood converted and as the Falcons gained a foothold in the game and put together some attacking play, and on the half hour much-maligned lock Jason Oakes forced his way over from ten metres to put his side ahead, before Anthony Elliott telegraphed a sweeping defensive kick into touch and Thompstone dived on the ball to score his second try of the day. I could swear that the ball was dead, but the referee is the judge. The home side couldn’t hit back before the break, and Harlequins were 14-15 ahead after 40 minutes as were the Albanians 8-5 at home to their Welsh opponents.
The introduction of Andy Long and Eni Gesinde at half time did not make much impact initially, as Harlequins dominated the opening stages of the second period with a good chance before Mehrtens kicked his second penalty to extend his team’s lead on 48 minutes. The Falcons’ lineout was again letting them down when breaks were made forward, and further changes were made in search for two more tries.
A run from Anthony Elliott, who was moved to full-back, upfield allowed replacement John Rudd to fight his way over just after the hour for the third try which put the Falcons ahead 21-18 after Flood’s conversion, and the hosts battled on for the next try which would achieve the target of four scores. A good chance was wasted when debutant Mark Sorenson stole a Quins lineout on their own line, but the Falcons conceded a penalty quickly and the visitors cleared.
Mehrtens missed a penalty from halfway in an attempt to get his side level with ten minutes left, and the game ended with an anti-climax as it was discovered Sale had won and therefore the result didn’t matter as the Falcons missed out on the semi-finals. Only 3,448 turned up, a damning statement on this farce of a Cup which I’m sure few Falcons or Harlequins fans will be sorry to see the back of for another year.
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