Newcastle however won the war where it mattered, on the pitch.

 

A moment of sheer class, in the last minutes, of the second half saw Mark Wilkinson offload the ball wide to Matt Burke who was able to sprint to the Dragons line and score the try which secured the match for the Falcons.

 

 

Before the game had even begun, Falcons announced changes to their side, welcoming back Matt Burke, Jamie Noon and Hall Charlton, who had all been drafted in after late fitness tests. The Falcons spirits were lifted with the news and the players expected fireworks during the match. Jonny Wilkinson’s elder brother Mark Wilkinson was named at fly half taking over the role of his younger brother. 

 

Kick off begun and the Falcons seemed to be in control of the match right from the start. Falcons remained in the Dragons half for the first ten minutes and were awarded an early penalty for Dragons being offside. Matt Burke stepped up to convert three points however; he was unfortunate enough to miss as the wind carried the ball to the left of the posts. While Burke was lining up the kick, Falcons were hit with an injury blow to scrum half Hall Charlton who had to retire early from the field, due to an injury to his lower back.

 

 

The Falcons kept chipping away at the Dragons defence and were determined to break through and get on the scoreboard. In the 15th minute Matt Burke got the Falcons on the scoreboard due to Dragons being penalised for not rolling away.

 

 

Dragons were forced to play with 14 men as Anderson was unable to decide whether or not to replace Jason Forster who picked up an injury. Falcons were awarded a penalty right on their own line due to Dragons indecision.

The Falcons remained consistent and managed a turn over in their own half. Falcons constantly chipped away in the Dragons defence; however a slight knock on from Matt Burke resulted in a scrum to Newport in their own half.

 

The Falcons were playing Newport from left to right of the field, eventually Falcons were able to get through the Newport defence. It was all started from a ruck; the ball was off loaded from Mark Wilkinson to Michael Stephenson, missing out Tom May who was being charged at by Percy Montgomery. This left Stephenson open, however he was tackled short of the line, so he offloaded the ball for Colin Charvis to cross the line. Burke converted the try and that left the Falcons up 10-0. 

 

 

From the restart Newport started well, achieving a turn over resulting in a line out close to Falcons own line. Newport drove hard into the Falcon forwards, the ball was recycled out to Gareth Wyatt who crossed over in the corner, after much speculation if James Grindal knocked him into touch before he grounded the ball. The conversion attempt went across the face of the posts.

 

 

Both teams made little breaks through the oppositions defence, however nothing progressed. The Dragons were penalised for being offside, Matt Burke decides to go for posts however, and he unfortunately missed.

In first half injury time, Dragons were reduced to 14 men as Sione Tuipulotu was sent to the sin bin for deliberate offside and not allowing the ball to come back out to the Falcons backs. The penalty that followed Tuipulotu’s departure was converted and that left the score 13-5 at half time.

 

 

In the second half, no substitutions were made for either side, the Falcons started off just like they started the first half. Falcons were dominant and were awarded a scrum for a slight knock on from Newport Gwent Dragons. A line out in the Falcons own half saw the pack move forward into the Dragons half. The game was moved from half to half.

 

 

The Falcons pack shone through a turn over which resulted in Tom May crossing over in the corner to put the Falcons 18-5 in the lead with only 10 minutes played in the second half. It was Mike McCarthy who took the ball on, and created the marvellous try in the corner. 

 

 

It was time for Dragons to stage a comeback in the game, they were able to keep the Falcons pinned in their own half, for the next 10 minutes, and eventually the Dragons leaked through the defence and scored a try in the corner. The conversion was added to the try leaving the score 18-12 with 20 minutes to go. Falcons were forced to make a substitution, as Colin Charvis had to leave the field with a knee injury.

 

 

The Falcons seemed to be taking their foot off the pedal allowing Dragons to strike in every way possible. The Dragons seemed up for a fight back and seemed determined to win this game.

The Falcons were given a breather when Alan Lewis penalised Newport for taking the man out without the ball. This allowed Mark Wilkinson to step up and clear the Falcons half, taking the pressure off them. Jamie Noon was able to conjure some space in the Dragons defence; however when he tried to offload the ball to Mike McCarthy, McCarthy mishandled the ball and knocked it on. 

The Falcons found themselves on the back foot as Dragons continued to attack the Falcons in their own half.

 

 

Michael Stephenson was another Falcon who was forced to leave the field due to an injury. Michael seemed to sustain an injury to the elbow. Epi Taione came on as a replacement.

 

From the lineout, Dragons seemed to charge themselves at the Falcons and keep them in their own half. The Falcons found themselves in the Dragons half, and were awarded a penalty as Dragons were penalised for Jamie Ringer coming in and charging towards the ruck. Matt Burke attempted the penalty; however the wind made the ball drift towards the left of the posts.

 

The Falcons kept moving forwards in the Dragons half, the ball was recycled out from Grindal to Wilkinson who then superbly offloaded the ball to Burke who ran in under the posts and added the conversion, the score now 25-12 to the Falcons.

 

 

Newport retaliated and were able to score a try however were unable to convert. The final whistle didn’t come soon enough for the Falcons, but once the whistle blew, the Falcons knew they were through to the last 8 of the Heineken Cup. A moment in history for the club. It has only just begun for the Falcons, roll on France in April!

 

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