Debut try
Sharks skinned
Debut try
By Leipziger
March 8 2009
Our Falcons are now officially on their best league run since the autumn of 2001, with Sale the fifth side in a row put to the sword and one fan even dreaming of a top half finish!
Debut try
March 8 2009
Our Falcons are now officially on their best league run since the autumn of 2001, with Sale the fifth side in a row put to the sword and one fan even dreaming of a top half finish!
While he may be over-optimistic, another who stated that no side will want to take us on right now was bang on the money. Harlequins will certainly be worried over the coming days about our great form which has come completely out of nowhere, although they are on a similar run to ours themselves.
Yet for a long time, it was we the travelling fans who were worried. After ten minutes last week we were 19-0 up; this time we were 13-0 down thanks to Neil Briggs' early try and Charlie Hodgson's unerring boot, and I for one didn't expect us to recover.
Tom May finally got us on the scoreboard but Hodgson replied straight away, and though we attacked with intent throughout the first half, a further penalty was all we could manage, with another one missed. Until in the final minutes of the half, the TV referee denied us a score before giving a try when Jon 'Try Machine' Golding scampered over the line.
The try wasn't in keeping with the style of our performance but they all count. The missed conversion left us 16-11 down at half-time, and I considered whether I'd be happy with such a result. After all, we'd been competitive and had a losing bonus point as things stood.
Even after four successive wins, my and I think our expectations of our team in no way match our hopes.
No need to settle though – not long after the restart the Falcons sped right and Danny Williams, who had been pretty anonymous in the first 40, powered over to level the scores. May knocked over the difficult conversion to put us ahead for the first time: come on!
In a blue shirt though Charlie Hodgson is always a danger, and he proved it with a penalty which put Sale back ahead. It was at this point that The Master (who I never doubted by the way) saw fit to bring on debutant Andrew Fenby in place of Williams.
The Blaydon flyer's first pass went through his hands into touch, but he showed his potential when with his first significant touch of the ball on the right he ignored an overlap and cut through the defence for a debut try!
May added the extra two points to send the already-loud away fans in the south-east corner of the Final Resting Place of Cyber Threats (aka Edgeley Park) potty – 19-25, this was on!
Just don't do anything stupid – just when we didn't need it, the Falcons decided to enter a period of silly kicking and silly penalties. Tim Swinson was sin-binned, and eventually Hodgson equalised with two penalties.
Yes, at half-time I might have taken a bonus point and even before kick-off, if someone had offered a draw I'd have taken it without hesitation.
But after leading by six and playing well for most of the game, we wanted Shark blood!
Initially Sale looked more likely to score, but our defence held out and we cam forward, the pack driving from the 22 almost to the line under the posts. Inexplicably, May and Micky Young kept ignoring our backs lined up on the right, but with just two minutes left and Russell Winter having knocked on on the left with the line beckoning, the Falcons' decision to keep it tight was proven correct.
Far on the left, phases went unrewarded until finally a white shirt was seen diving over ball in hand. Yes! That had to be the winner! Few knew who had scored, fewer cared as black hearts exploded and Geordies danced in the North West cold. The try bonus point was simply the icing.
Golding was mentioned as a possible scorer, for the record it was as I'm sure you all know Brent Wilson.
The conversion was important, and May hit it sweetly to all but guarantee us at least a draw. 25-32, now DEFINITELY don't do anything stupid!
Sale predictably attacked with urgency, and Ripol found himself free on the right. Oh no! But the ball went behind him and the next infringement soon after saw Newcastle players and fans alike celebrate another great win!
We now have five successive league wins, three away wins in a row, one defeat in seven, two defeats in nine in all competitions. Unbelievable by our standards!
The bonus points gets us into eighth, although Wasps have a game in hand still, but seventh is certainly achievable if we can keep up this run. I'm sure we will lose again this season, but we still have the Challenge Cup to go for and a decent league finish. Maybe the corner has finally been turned?
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Sharks skinned
Posted by: FalconsRugby.org.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 19:55
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Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Dr. B. (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 19:56
Great stuff as always Leipy. Yet another decent away performance that I've missed. Gutted isn't the word.
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Mally (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 20:00
Best Falcons performance I have seen in ages... just got in and am still grinning - am supposed to be working on school stuff tonight - but I may just have to watch the match again to really take it all in.
IT WAS FANTASTIC! Heads stayed up and Falcons played every minute, Sale were good but so were we!
Was an absolute pleasure to be there, nerve wracking at time but totally brilliant. Best performance this season without a doubt!
No voice, no spare cash, & no free time left at the weekends... oh yes the rugby season has started!!!!
IT WAS FANTASTIC! Heads stayed up and Falcons played every minute, Sale were good but so were we!
Was an absolute pleasure to be there, nerve wracking at time but totally brilliant. Best performance this season without a doubt!
No voice, no spare cash, & no free time left at the weekends... oh yes the rugby season has started!!!!
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: TouchLine (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 20:04
Next week will be fascinating, Quins also on a 5 game streak.
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: anneke (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 20:05
Well done Leipy and the hands on your head thng wasn't that you being incredibly happy?
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Get Stuck In (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 20:22
I really enjoyed reading that.
I think it summed up the raw excitement of the afternoon when the Falcons showed what terrific spirit they have. Well done to the fans who made the trip. They certainly made themselves heard on Sky's coverage, and it made us armchair supporters proud.
I thought Hayman and Golding were the rocks upon which our victory was achieved, and we have a real find in Micky Young. I thought the referee handled the game really well, and contributed to a free-flowing, uncynical game of rugby (although I still think Swinson's sin-binning was harsh).
Adam Balding, Jamie Noon, Tom May and Phil Dowson were all giants today. Alex Tait can take great pride in the way he didn't allow a few mistakes to curtail his ambition and running (what a prospect) and Andrew Fenby - who I've never seen before - is clearly another exciting back with a future.
Every single Falcon who took to the field today has done us proud. What a thrilling victory!
I think it summed up the raw excitement of the afternoon when the Falcons showed what terrific spirit they have. Well done to the fans who made the trip. They certainly made themselves heard on Sky's coverage, and it made us armchair supporters proud.
I thought Hayman and Golding were the rocks upon which our victory was achieved, and we have a real find in Micky Young. I thought the referee handled the game really well, and contributed to a free-flowing, uncynical game of rugby (although I still think Swinson's sin-binning was harsh).
Adam Balding, Jamie Noon, Tom May and Phil Dowson were all giants today. Alex Tait can take great pride in the way he didn't allow a few mistakes to curtail his ambition and running (what a prospect) and Andrew Fenby - who I've never seen before - is clearly another exciting back with a future.
Every single Falcon who took to the field today has done us proud. What a thrilling victory!
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: DGNTR (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2009 23:55
Agree with all that GSI (crikey!!).
What a fantastic advert for the game of rugby union today, even The Fat Controller was drooling over the game and the Falcons performance in particular.
Hayman was immense and single handedly destroyed the Sale scrum. Golding did his bit too.
Everyone played their part today.
Golding - terrific all round game
Vickers - he's so much better than Long and Thompson
Hayman - deserved MOTM, best display by a TH I've seen in many a year
Sorenson - great return to the starting XV, dominant in line out
Swinson - I like him, huge prospect for us, plays beyond his years, immense
Dowson - solid showing from the captain
Balding - everywhere, for such a big bloke his around the park agaility is fantastic
Wilson - best performance by a Falcons 7 in a long while, he's remarkably good at 7 for such a big bloke
Young - so much better than Grindal/Charlton, he gives us the quick ball we need
May - not in the form of recent weeks but he doesn't half get the back line moving better than anyone we've seen this season
Tuipolotu - great game, runs straight, takes defenders out, that's what I like about him, simple and effective
Noon - best performance I've seen of him this season
Williams - took try well, still a promising talent
Visser - not given enough ball, but then again we didn't need him today.
Tait - outshone his brother, absolutely rock solid most of the time, a couple of errors aside.
Fenby - quick and strong, he's got every chance of being a first choice next season, best I've seen from a falcons winger this season
Others - did their but to keep Sale out for last 10 mins.
BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT even if Sale were not full strength.
What a fantastic advert for the game of rugby union today, even The Fat Controller was drooling over the game and the Falcons performance in particular.
Hayman was immense and single handedly destroyed the Sale scrum. Golding did his bit too.
Everyone played their part today.
Golding - terrific all round game
Vickers - he's so much better than Long and Thompson
Hayman - deserved MOTM, best display by a TH I've seen in many a year
Sorenson - great return to the starting XV, dominant in line out
Swinson - I like him, huge prospect for us, plays beyond his years, immense
Dowson - solid showing from the captain
Balding - everywhere, for such a big bloke his around the park agaility is fantastic
Wilson - best performance by a Falcons 7 in a long while, he's remarkably good at 7 for such a big bloke
Young - so much better than Grindal/Charlton, he gives us the quick ball we need
May - not in the form of recent weeks but he doesn't half get the back line moving better than anyone we've seen this season
Tuipolotu - great game, runs straight, takes defenders out, that's what I like about him, simple and effective
Noon - best performance I've seen of him this season
Williams - took try well, still a promising talent
Visser - not given enough ball, but then again we didn't need him today.
Tait - outshone his brother, absolutely rock solid most of the time, a couple of errors aside.
Fenby - quick and strong, he's got every chance of being a first choice next season, best I've seen from a falcons winger this season
Others - did their but to keep Sale out for last 10 mins.
BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT even if Sale were not full strength.
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: tyke93 (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 11:06
Really well done to you guys. I was worried at the start of the season that you get relegated but it just goes to show that you dont need the best players in the world to string together some results in the GP.
Well done the Falcons, hope to see you next year!
Well done the Falcons, hope to see you next year!
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: TouchLine (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 11:11
Hayman is the best TH in the world!
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Workie Ticket. (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 11:24
Separated at birth - Leipy and Lobbe?
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Leipziger (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 11:40
JM:
Ignacio:
[img]http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:cQnoIsuYQmwR3M:[img.skysports.com][/img]
Think I look more like Ignacio personally. Juan Martin looks more like Ruck n Roll
Ignacio:
[img]http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:cQnoIsuYQmwR3M:[img.skysports.com][/img]
Think I look more like Ignacio personally. Juan Martin looks more like Ruck n Roll
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: Kath. (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 12:29
Excellent Title Leipy - love it 
Quote:Sharks skinned
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: citizen-slacker (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 12:29
Two things are guaranteed, that it will rain in Manchester & any game against the Sharks will be entertaining (I was in France at the start of the season so I still have an unblemished view).
My first visit to EP, was met by a young lad in a bus stop, still wearing his boots from morning practice, giving the travelling support the Vs & various gestures about the size of his manhood & where he thought it should go. Hey ho, oikball mentality I thought, got to be a stray muppet & I'm thoroughly glad to say he was just one numpty in amongst a solidly nice bunch.
We invaded a small corner of the Royal Oak (£1.80 for a pint of the local brew) & were made to feel welcome by staff & locals alike, while Steve pondered sending me outside to do a sun dance, so he could go for a smoke. Twenty minutes later though, it was still throwing down a good winter rain shower & Steve had located the heated patio out the back, just as the pub started the BBQ going (& people think us proper Northerners are immune to the cold!).
A five minute walk to EP with the wind trying to turn me & the kilt in to Mary Poppins, blowing around town, but once inside we were greated by the sight of the BMI Healthcare stand being filled by folk who had been given waterproof ponchos, to try & prevent early onset drowning & hypothermia.
Leipy has done the game a better review than I could, I never thought that Sale were two tries better than us & it was another great second half fightback. Highlight for me was Hayman taking the ball at the back of the line out, throwing an outrageous dummy, then stepping Dwayne Peel.
Quality game, quality crowd, thanks to the Sharks fans around us for being hospitable, friendly, knowledgable & gracious in defeat (especially as THEY thought they were getting a five pointer according to at least 3 articles in the programme).
The bus home felt slightly subdued, but I put that down to basking in the afterglow of another away win. That & the almighty sugar dip that was being endured by those who partook in the buffet, ably provided by the people who found Summerfield & numerous pork products.
My first visit to EP, was met by a young lad in a bus stop, still wearing his boots from morning practice, giving the travelling support the Vs & various gestures about the size of his manhood & where he thought it should go. Hey ho, oikball mentality I thought, got to be a stray muppet & I'm thoroughly glad to say he was just one numpty in amongst a solidly nice bunch.
We invaded a small corner of the Royal Oak (£1.80 for a pint of the local brew) & were made to feel welcome by staff & locals alike, while Steve pondered sending me outside to do a sun dance, so he could go for a smoke. Twenty minutes later though, it was still throwing down a good winter rain shower & Steve had located the heated patio out the back, just as the pub started the BBQ going (& people think us proper Northerners are immune to the cold!).
A five minute walk to EP with the wind trying to turn me & the kilt in to Mary Poppins, blowing around town, but once inside we were greated by the sight of the BMI Healthcare stand being filled by folk who had been given waterproof ponchos, to try & prevent early onset drowning & hypothermia.
Leipy has done the game a better review than I could, I never thought that Sale were two tries better than us & it was another great second half fightback. Highlight for me was Hayman taking the ball at the back of the line out, throwing an outrageous dummy, then stepping Dwayne Peel.
Quality game, quality crowd, thanks to the Sharks fans around us for being hospitable, friendly, knowledgable & gracious in defeat (especially as THEY thought they were getting a five pointer according to at least 3 articles in the programme).
The bus home felt slightly subdued, but I put that down to basking in the afterglow of another away win. That & the almighty sugar dip that was being endured by those who partook in the buffet, ably provided by the people who found Summerfield & numerous pork products.
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: lebigmac69 (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 14:36
Quote:Hey ho, oikball mentality
Sale fans are th only ones I've ever had problems with. When we beat them down there a few years ago (Jojo captain) some old codger told several of us Falcons fans exactly where to go and what he thought of us, including my dear old mum.
A truly poor showing from a supposed rugby 'fan'.
Re: Sharks skinned
Posted by: steve1888 (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 19:00
The BBQ cook/chef/burger flipper wanted us to win too ! he said so when I chatting to him why smoking in said dry and warm smoking area. Nice pre match boozer - horrid ground with restricted viewing and stupid no smoking anywhere rule even though loads of open space - i spent nothing (well apart from a penny i guess) in the ground in protest.
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