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Flying Falcons Hammer Slumbering Gloucester

Hat Trick for Tom!
By Mally (23/11/03)
November 23 2003
A superb performance from Newcastle Falcons saw them beat the best side of last season by 20 points. Gloucester looked laboured throughout the match and never seemed to get going.

Editors Note: Apologies - this is not a match report more my recollection of the game as I've lost my notes!

As I recall this was a cracking game, five tries and a 20 point victory, as well as some debate...

Without doubt this was Tom May's match, scoring 3 three tries May was on fine form, but more on the Flying Munchkin later, our best buy of the summer Ben Gollings looked to be out to prove that there is life without Jonny Wilkinson slotting 4 out of 5 conversions and 3 penalty kicks.

What was up with Gloucester? They looked nothing like the side which topped the table last season, bar a brief rally in the second half they lacked penetration and looked sluggish.

Falcons got on the scoreboard first with a penalty 10 minutes into the game. Gloucester's fullback Goodridge went over in the North West corner of the ground for the game's first try, though I and my fellow Falcons thought the final pass was forward and even the Glaws fan I was stood next too thought it was "a little flat"! However it was given and Paul converted 3 - 7 to Gloucester.

The Flying Munchkin

A second successful penalty kick from Gollings brought it back to 6 - 7. Then the Flying Munchkin got going... Within the space of five minutes Tom May scored two tries, shifting the balance of the game to Falcons and Jamie Noon added another before half time.

Gloucester scored two more tries, with Hazell and Sinbad both going over but it was enough. Despite rallying briefly in the second half Gloucester were out played. Maybe they were remembering Gloucester's impressive comeback at Kingsholm last season when Falcons lost a 20 point lead, as Newcastle Falcons were not resting on their laurels. Running down the East side of the pitch May gathered a high kick, out running Garvey to score his third try of the match.

Double movement?

Not wanting to be left out Falcons' other winger Micheal Stephenson scored in the North East corner, now from where I was stood it looked to be a double movement, but then I'm the first to admit this is an area where I get the union and league laws confused!

Brilliant performance from Falcons - and most importantly they didn't ease off once in front.

The Teams:

Newcastle Falcons:

15. Ben Gollings, 14. Tom May, 13. Jamie Noon, 12. Mark Mayerhofler, 11. Michael Stephenson, 10. Phil Godman, 9. Hall Charlton, 1. Ian Peel, 2. Nick Makin, 3. Marius Hurter, 4. Garath Archer, 5. Mark Andrews (capt.), 6. Jon Dunbar, 7. Warren Britz, 8. Hugh Vyvan.

Gloucester:

15. Jon Goodridge, 14. Marcel Garvey, 13. Robert Todd, 12. Henry Paul, 11. James Simpson-Daniel, 10. Simon Amor, 9. Alex Page, 1. Paul Johnstone, 2. Steve Brotherstone, 3. Adrian Olver, 4. Alex Brown, 5. Mark Cornwell, 6. Jake Boer (capt.), 7. Andy Hazell, 8. Junior Paramore.

The Scorers:

Newcastle Falcons:

Tries: Tom May (3), Jamie Noon, Micheal Stephenson
Conversions: Ben Gollings (4)
Penalties: Ben Gollings (3)

Gloucester:

Tries: Jon Goodridge, James Simpson-Daniel, Jake Boer
Conversions: Henry Paul (2)
Penalties: Henry Paul


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