Winning ugly
By Leipziger
November 1 2009
A forgettable match at a wet and windy Kingston Park at least ended with the right result today as our Falcons secured a first Premiership home win of the season, 14-3 against Worcester, thanks to Rob Vickers' try and the boot of Jimmy Gopperth.
November 1 2009
A forgettable match at a wet and windy Kingston Park at least ended with the right result today as our Falcons secured a first Premiership home win of the season, 14-3 against Worcester, thanks to Rob Vickers' try and the boot of Jimmy Gopperth.
After a decent showing in the first half against a poor Warriors team, Newcastle were dominated territorially in an uninspiring second 40 but were in little danger of losing.
With Alex Tait failing a late fitness test, Charlie Amesbury moved to full-back and Tom Biggs was drafted in onto the left wing, meaning Filipo Levi replacing Adam Balding was the only change from the XV that won so well at Bath.
The Falcons dominated early on, even with Gopperth's kicking from hand not being completely accurate thanks to the wind, and after Mark Sorenson was tackled in front of the line, the ball came left and Vickers was driven over. The windy conditions meant the ball moved slightly as Gopperth attempted the conversion, and it went wide, but we were on our way.
Tane Tu'ipulotu and Filipo Levi made a number of charges while Gopperth sprayed the ball around for Danny Williams, and the winger almost touched down but was just beaten to the loose ball by a defender. Our forwards had Worcester beaten in the scrum but despite a number of infringements and a few high tackles referee Sean Davey kept his cards in his pocket.
On the half hour Gopperth increased the lead with a penalty, and we were 8-0 up at half-time. I had conflicting feelings, yes we were winning and Worcester were not putting up much of a challenge, but on the other hand we all know how home second halves have gone this season and we could've done with more points. Josh Afu, a first-half replacement for Brent Wilson, would have scored had the referee not already blown for a scrum for us on the 22.
The second half was, in my view, just awful, I can only remember one hint of a try-scoring chance and that was for Worcester when Sam Tuitupou made for the line, but after he was tackled we turned over and James Hudson and Tom Biggs combined to clear. Gopperth kicked another penalty, but on the hour Willie Walker reduced the lead back to eight points.
Most of the game was being played out between the halfway line and our 22 line, and the referee refused to let the game flow, and scrums were often a mess although we invariably got the decisions. Finally, a third penalty with ten minutes left gave us an 11-point lead and there was certainly no chance of Worcester coming back from that.
Sorry if that isn't as detailed as you expected but thinking like a neutral I can't remember a game we've won being that low on excitement. Worcester are certainly the worst Premiership team I've seen so far this season and their fans seem quite unhappy at the moment, and the weather notwithstanding we could've still hoped for another bonus point though.
There were some good performances by, in particular, Tu'ipulotu, Sorenson and Jon Golding, and Levi showed a lot of strength with the ball in hand too, I think he will continue to improve after a slow start with us. Man of the match Micky Young is also continuing his recent good form, and he continues to get up the opposition's noses and ensure he's at the centre of any fisties.
Four weeks ago though I asked for wins against Bath and Worcester and we have them, so I shouldn't really complain and I have often said that I believe the performance or quality of the game is secondary to the result. I just feel quite uninspired at the moment. I'm sure it will pass.
6th in the league isn't too bad a position considering we haven't had a great start to the season, but our next three league games are very challenging. The big question now is, considering the fare served up today and the fact we haven't won at Sixways for five years, but on the other hand we have won our last four games...do I go to Worcester on Saturday?
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Winning ugly
Posted by: FalconsRugby.org.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 18:12
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Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Get Stuck In (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 18:27
Excellent report.
The conditions meant we were never going to see running rugby and, after Leeds' surprise win at Wasps earlier, I'm just relieved we have bagged a win. I'm still looking at the teams behind us, rather than the ones in front.
Well played to the Falcons front row, again.
They are my men of the match!
The conditions meant we were never going to see running rugby and, after Leeds' surprise win at Wasps earlier, I'm just relieved we have bagged a win. I'm still looking at the teams behind us, rather than the ones in front.
Well played to the Falcons front row, again.
They are my men of the match!
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Falconfan (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 18:42
Yes! For sure a forward should have won man of the match today - it was from the pack that our superiority came. Levi? Sorenson? Hudson? Hayman? Golding? Yes, the conditions were poor with the variable wind, but we should/could have given our runners an opportunity from time to time to test out the Warrior's defensive backs. I felt really sorry for our wingers - they saw precious little of the ball; by my reckoning Biggs touched the ball at most twice in the whole game; we need to use him more - presumably we signed him to run with the ball and score tries - he's just not being given the chance to do so. After all, the weather made touch kicking highly doubtful as a tactic today. I don't think I've seen a match with so many kicks 'out on the full'. Having said all of that - a good and deserved win against an outclassed opposition. Well done, Falcons!
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Psycho (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 18:49
One eror. Afu's "try" was pulled back for a penalty to Wuss. It did appear at first that the ref had blown for a knock-on but he then took play back and gave offside, presumably for someone being ahead of the original kick through.
Given the stick he has taken, Levi deserves a mention for a good performance.
Given the stick he has taken, Levi deserves a mention for a good performance.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: alas (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 19:22
I agree Levi had a good game and would have been a more deserving MoM. The second-half was less exciting than watching paint dry. Jimmy, in particular, put in one bad kick after another. Fortunately we could afford to give the ball to the opposition because they were hopeless. Of course they were without a few players, but they looked like relegation candidates. In the first half when Walker kicked a penalty dead why did we decide to take a 22 rather than a scrum 15 yards further up the pitch?
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Leipziger (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 19:46
Psycho, now I think about it there was also one pulled back for our player being in front of the kicker on halfway, that might have been Afu, so the scrum one was probably someone else. Thanks!
FF, I noticed at one point in the first half we had a line out on the right in Worcester's 22 and Biggs was throwing his arms up while shouting across the pitch, presumably saying "Look at all this space I've got". That wasn't one of the few times he got the ball.
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FF, I noticed at one point in the first half we had a line out on the right in Worcester's 22 and Biggs was throwing his arms up while shouting across the pitch, presumably saying "Look at all this space I've got". That wasn't one of the few times he got the ball.
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Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Mally (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 19:48
Don't give a toss that the performance was poor - or that we should have maybe won by a lot more, we won in the league at KP, at last. I'm happy!
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Wearsider (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:04
One thing I'd like to say about today's match.
We could all see what the wind could do to the flight of the ball and at some times it was quite scary the amount of deviation once the ball went above the height of the west stand. What I'd like to say is congratulations to the many players who took cleanly a catch after the ball had been hoisted into the teeth of the gale. There were many today who took the catch without spilling it. Well done.
We could all see what the wind could do to the flight of the ball and at some times it was quite scary the amount of deviation once the ball went above the height of the west stand. What I'd like to say is congratulations to the many players who took cleanly a catch after the ball had been hoisted into the teeth of the gale. There were many today who took the catch without spilling it. Well done.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Way out west (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:05
As Leipziger has said, after the Saracens game, every Falcons supporter, player and coach would have been over the moon at the thought of 9 points from the Bath and Worcester games.
But today was just very, very uninspiring.
Lets be positive. Gopperth and Amesbury now have experience of playing at Kingston Park with a gale force south westerly blowing so should kick much better the next time the wind blows. Might help to keep the ball in hand a bit more next ime too. My 9 yr old asked after 15 mins if it was a kicking competition today. and he hasn't mastered sarcasm yet so I think he was serious.
and I think Hayman was still suffering from the flu. The scrum was excellent for the first 30 mins but was a bit of a shambles in the second half. (not helped by the ref). The forwards really seemed to fancy it in the fist half but looked to lose a bit of belief in the second half - not sure why.
Loved the way Micky Young was winding up the opposition at every opportunity.
but it's a win and with the Leeds result making the bottom of the table a lot more interesting, it's points that count.
But today was just very, very uninspiring.
Lets be positive. Gopperth and Amesbury now have experience of playing at Kingston Park with a gale force south westerly blowing so should kick much better the next time the wind blows. Might help to keep the ball in hand a bit more next ime too. My 9 yr old asked after 15 mins if it was a kicking competition today. and he hasn't mastered sarcasm yet so I think he was serious.
and I think Hayman was still suffering from the flu. The scrum was excellent for the first 30 mins but was a bit of a shambles in the second half. (not helped by the ref). The forwards really seemed to fancy it in the fist half but looked to lose a bit of belief in the second half - not sure why.
Loved the way Micky Young was winding up the opposition at every opportunity.
but it's a win and with the Leeds result making the bottom of the table a lot more interesting, it's points that count.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Monkey1 (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:09
We didn't hang about at KP for long, got home, had a cuppa, Leipy's report already posted up.
As for the game, it was always going to be ugly, indeed not as many fumbles & stoppages as I expected. I will comment though that running the ball in general produced good results, and that kicking produced several piles of pants. The question therefore is pretty obvious - why not run the ball more? Once again Biggs went unmarked for a lot of the time as the opposition had worked out that he never ever gets the ball. Talking to DG after the game, he didn't see Biggs touch the ball in the first half, and I didn't even notice Biggs was there until he appeared in front of me as they lined up to start the second half.
Now then, unmarked player, plenty of space, pass him the ball quickly & I wonder what might happen?
Also, in consideration of the Sale comments about kicking & a boring game, all around me people were groaning as posession was pointlessly kicked away when running was a good option. If they want more bums on seats, and as a bonus possibly score more points too, try running the bloody ball for a change.
As for the game, it was always going to be ugly, indeed not as many fumbles & stoppages as I expected. I will comment though that running the ball in general produced good results, and that kicking produced several piles of pants. The question therefore is pretty obvious - why not run the ball more? Once again Biggs went unmarked for a lot of the time as the opposition had worked out that he never ever gets the ball. Talking to DG after the game, he didn't see Biggs touch the ball in the first half, and I didn't even notice Biggs was there until he appeared in front of me as they lined up to start the second half.
Now then, unmarked player, plenty of space, pass him the ball quickly & I wonder what might happen?
Also, in consideration of the Sale comments about kicking & a boring game, all around me people were groaning as posession was pointlessly kicked away when running was a good option. If they want more bums on seats, and as a bonus possibly score more points too, try running the bloody ball for a change.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Leipziger (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:18
Agreed Wearsider.
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Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: DGNTR (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:19
Will Welch MOTM for me. He was often first at the breakdown and he does a lot of work on the ground scavenging and generally making a nuisance of himself.
He's quite tall too so he could be useful in the line out, wonder why they don't use him as he doesn't look that heavy to lift.
I thought he had an excellent game and already at such an early stage he looks to be an excellent "find". Ed Williamson will not get his place back when fit if Welch keeps this form up.
Gopperth surely got a kicking at half time from Bates, his kicking in first half was awful and very immature, didn't play the conditions at all well.
Wuss were woeful today, had they been full strength in the pack they could well have turned us over, as we weren't that much better.
A win's a win though and you'd take that one today, regardless of how scruffy a win it was.
He's quite tall too so he could be useful in the line out, wonder why they don't use him as he doesn't look that heavy to lift.
I thought he had an excellent game and already at such an early stage he looks to be an excellent "find". Ed Williamson will not get his place back when fit if Welch keeps this form up.
Gopperth surely got a kicking at half time from Bates, his kicking in first half was awful and very immature, didn't play the conditions at all well.
Wuss were woeful today, had they been full strength in the pack they could well have turned us over, as we weren't that much better.
A win's a win though and you'd take that one today, regardless of how scruffy a win it was.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Falconfan (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:39
A bit unfair, DG. We weren't great today but there was still a gulf in class between the two teams. Bates' comments for public consumption were rightly that the win was well deserved, but I hope he kicked ass that there was only one try and that the second half was flat.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: DGNTR (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 20:43
I disagree ff, at times Wuss were a match for us due to our inability to break their line consistently and with conviction.
Yes, we were the better side, but it certainly wasn';t a walkover.
Having said that, for once at KP, we didn't look like we could lose it.
Yes, we were the better side, but it certainly wasn';t a walkover.
Having said that, for once at KP, we didn't look like we could lose it.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: falcon phil (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 22:12
Again today I was impressed with Will Welch who is starting to make the 7 shirt his own. Thought Levi was good today and Charlie Amesbury continues to impress I just wish we would give tom biggs more ball.
Have to say how Pat Sanderson did not get binned today amazed me as he constantley had his hands in the ruck.
Have to say how Pat Sanderson did not get binned today amazed me as he constantley had his hands in the ruck.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: DGNTR (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2009 22:41
Pat Sanderson is a good streetwise 7 (although he played 8 today) and hence he doesn't get pinged when he "cheats".
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Happy Hooker (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2009 08:51
Ugly win yes - but I'm happy with the four points and we were the better side by some margin.
I too thought MoM should have gone to a forward - either Sorensen or Hudson as the line-out was excellent in very difficult conditions.
Agree about Welch and Afu also looked lively when he came on.
Some fans around me were having a go at Gopperth after he put two kicks out on the full but in each case the option to kick was right although the execution was poor. He reads the game well. On several occasions instead of throwing the ball out wide when their defence was on top of us, he chose to cut back inside into heavy traffic and took some big hits before recycling the ball. The soft option would have beenjust to throw the ball down the line when it was going nowhere.
Thought Sean Davey hads a shocker. When the scrum repeatedly collapses it's invariably because someone is doing something they shouldn't. But Davey just kept re-setting the scrum. On a couple of occasions the the Wuss front row stood up under pressure and what did Davey do? That's right he re-set the scrum. Towards the end Powell was round the wrong side of the scrum and a mile offside and we got a penalty - but not for the offside. It was for Wuss breaking their binding!
I too thought MoM should have gone to a forward - either Sorensen or Hudson as the line-out was excellent in very difficult conditions.
Agree about Welch and Afu also looked lively when he came on.
Some fans around me were having a go at Gopperth after he put two kicks out on the full but in each case the option to kick was right although the execution was poor. He reads the game well. On several occasions instead of throwing the ball out wide when their defence was on top of us, he chose to cut back inside into heavy traffic and took some big hits before recycling the ball. The soft option would have beenjust to throw the ball down the line when it was going nowhere.
Thought Sean Davey hads a shocker. When the scrum repeatedly collapses it's invariably because someone is doing something they shouldn't. But Davey just kept re-setting the scrum. On a couple of occasions the the Wuss front row stood up under pressure and what did Davey do? That's right he re-set the scrum. Towards the end Powell was round the wrong side of the scrum and a mile offside and we got a penalty - but not for the offside. It was for Wuss breaking their binding!
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: Leipziger (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2009 10:03
Normally loathe to criticise refs but he was awful. There was one point he blew the whistle for something, I can't remember what it was, but anyway it was a penalty offence and he gave a scrum. I think he also gave a knock-on at a scrum when the ball was at the 8's feet and no hands were anywhere near it!
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Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: westand (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2009 11:21
Praise for Young, Gopperth, Hayman-----in The Birmingham Post
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: lebigmac69 (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2009 22:19
"he doesn't get pinged when he "cheats".
That was the frustrating thing. He was pinged time and time again in his own 22 and didn't get a card.
That was the frustrating thing. He was pinged time and time again in his own 22 and didn't get a card.
Re: Winning ugly
Posted by: westand (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2009 09:02
and more------ The forgotten club in The Indy
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