Another tight game yielded four points and we move a touch nearer to the European Cup places whilst taking a giant leap away from the relegation zone after both Harlequins and Worcester had disappointing results this weekends. The win was achieved past former Falcons Tim Stimpson and Jon Dunbar, both in the hosts’ starting line-up which faced a Falcons side of: Matt Burke, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Epi Taione, Mathew Tait, David Walder, James Grindal, Ian Peel, Andy Long, Marius Hurter, Stuart Grimes, Andy Buist, Colin Charvis, Cory Harris and Phil Dowson, with the find of the summer Mike McCarthy and England star Jonny Wilkinson on the bench.

The derby of-sorts between England’s two northern-most professional clubs began a few minutes late in front of a Leeds record 14,293 fans, including four coach-loads and a few more from Geordieland who roared our Falcons on. The Tykes however drew first blood with a penalty from Gordon Ross, which David Walder equalised after Matt Burke had to be replaced with Joe Shaw in the first ten minutes due to injury. Leeds also had to bring on ex-England international David Rees for the injured Tom Biggs, but Epi Taione also soon followed our Australian talisman off the pitch soon after, also injured, but his replacement Jonny Wilkinson received a huge cheer from Falcons, the many neutrals and probably even the odd Tyke for obvious reasons. This stretched our back line resources in the match squad and meant a reshuffle to Walder, May, Tait, Noon, Shaw, Wilkinson, Grindal.

Our World Cup winner quickly made presence known by kicking a penalty to put us into the lead, before the line was crossed for the only time after 27 minutes. Shaw made an extremely high tackle around the 22 line, but was actually penalised for not moving away (holding on?), and Leeds kicked the penalty into the corner for the lineout. From the throw, Mark Regan was driven it must be said very easily over the tryline. Ross missed the conversion kick to keep us in contention in a first half which we dominated, and after knocking over a second penalty Wilkinson hit an injury time penalty to give us the lead, 8-12, at the break.

The second half was quite different as the Tykes threw themselves at us in an attempt to gain the four Premiership points for themselves, and another penalty from Ross put them within one of our score. Our defence, bolstered by the fresh legs of Micky Ward, James Isaacson and Mike McCarthy for Marius Hurter, Ian Peel and Andy Buist (the latter decision much more understandable, if out of position, than the other two), held firm however, and we always seemed to have an extra man available to make the crucial tackle, before Wilkinson restored our four point lead in the final ten minutes with a penalty. 11-15 as things stood.

Coming up to four or five minutes into injury time at the end of the match, a succession of penalties for both teams left us wondering whether we’d ever see the end of the game and gain our third away win of the Premiership season. But when we won a penalty on the Leeds 22, surely we had to go for goal to seal the win or at least a draw? No? What on Earth was Wilkinson thinking, kicking the ball out of play?

I soon found out - that was the last action of the game and the referee blew for full time to signal the lads’ fourth win in five matches by another tight margin.

After applauding their hosts in, our Falcons celebrated with their fans in both the South and North Stands before the Supporters’ Club presented Marius Hurter with a tankard in appreciation for the sterling and unrelenting service he has given our club for six years of his life. He will be greatly missed.

The game was not one which will have the numerous neutrals inside Headingley clamouring to return for the Tykes’ next European Shield home game (no last gasp Hall Charlton try for instance), however, we can be most satisfied that we have stopped a rot of four successive away defeats in the league. At Saracens at the end of January we must hope to build on this, after hopefully overcoming Sale at KP next week. This win will mean little unless we use it as part of a decent run.

Special mention to David Walder today whose defence was very good and whose kicking from hand was often directed towards tight and nasty areas of the Leeds defensive zones rather than just down the full back’s throat, which of course with Stimpson coming after us would’ve been dangerous.

Now we have four wins and a draw in five games at Headingley against Leeds in the professional era. We have an even better record at home to Sale, namely 100% wins. Let’s keep that going too lads.

Leeds: T Stimpson, M Cardey, P Christophers, A Snyman, T Biggs (6, D Rees), G Ross 2P, M McMillan, M Shelley, M Regan 1T, R Gerber, S Morgan (47, C Murphy), T Palmer ©, J Dunbar, R Parks, C Rigney. Replacements not used: M Holt, G Kerr, A Dickens, G Wright.

Newcastle: M Burke (16, J Shaw), T May, J Noon, E Taione (19, J Wilkinson 3P 1DG), M Tait, D Walder 1P, J Grindal, I Peel © (65, J Isaacson), A Long, M Hurter (60, M Ward), S Grimes, A Buist (73, M McCarthy), C Charvis, C Harris, P Dowson. Replacements not used: S Sititi, H Charlton.

Referee: Chris White

Attendance: 14,293

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