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Same old story Part 2

Great game
By Leipziger
February 25 2008
For the second time in as many seasons, the Falcons put in a strong performance at Kingsholm, led at half time but were ultimately defeated by league leaders Gloucester. Tries in the first half by Ollie Phillips and Tom May as well as the full-back’s boot looked to have given us a hard-fought victory but in the end it was May’s error which cost us the bonus point.

Missing our four England backs, the midfield had a worrying look to it with Steve Jones at fly-half and Tom Dillon wearing 13, both playing their first league games of 2008, and Alex ‘Microchip’ Tait made a Premiership debut at inside centre.  Carl Hayman and Joe McDonnell started their first league game together.

 

The Falcons spurned an early chance to take the lead when May missed a penalty, and although it took Gloucester almost ten minutes to get the ball in hand in our half, when they did Willie Walker kicked the first points of the day.

 

A John Rudd hit on James Simpson-Daniel saw the ball go loose, and Jones hacked forward 50 metres but neither he nor Ben Woods could get to the ball first in the home 22.  Seconds later as we put together an attack in the 22, Rudd and Woods were missed clear on the left and May knocked on on the right.

 

A second penalty doubled Gloucester’s advantage, and it looked bleak when Jones was sin-binned in our 22 as the hosts put the pressure on for a deliberate knock-on.  A third penalty on 35 minutes stretched our deficit further.

 

However, just minutes before the interval, the dangerous Ollie Phillips took a ball and kicked and chased over the defence.  The winger outran the defender, stole the ball back and touched down for a great score, May converting to put us right back in the game.

 

On the stroke of half time, we came forward again and Hayman set up May for a second try, and within a couple of minutes we were 9-14 up!  Disbelieving but happy, we wondered whether this would finally be the Falcons’ first win in Gloucester since 1998.

 

In the second half it continued to look good, with a penalty and a drop-goal from May stretching our lead to 11 points.  Around the hour mark the Falcons were dominating the game, competing for and winning home lineouts and the home crowd were becoming quite restless.

 

So it was against the run of play when Geoff Parling was turned over after being isolated under a high ball, and Gloucester put in Simpson-Daniel to score on the right, although I’m sure I saw one of our defenders taken out off the ball in the build-up.  Walker’s conversion made things very interesting.

 

As good as the Falcons’ performance was, I always had the feeling that if Gloucester scored one try, they’d score two, and so it proved when after some heroic defending James Bailey found his way through to give the Cherry n Whites the lead, although the conversion missed.  Seven minutes to go, one point in it.

 

The Falcons searched for the winning points into overtime, and with zero on the clock were struggling to get into the 22.  Looking for the drop goal, May attempted from a bad position and the kick was charged down, replacement lock Akapusi Qera racing upfield and scoring Gloucester’s third try.  Walker’s conversion cost the Falcons the bonus point and any reward from a superb game.

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