For the tenth time, our Falcons travelled south to compete in the Middlesex Sevens, looking to compete in a final (either the tournament proper or the Plate) for the fifth successive season, and a sixth in all.
Unlike 2004, Newcastle sent a young squad to the capital, captained by Tom May and containing only one other player with a decent amount of senior experience, namely Mathew Tait.
The tournament again kicked off with the British (or possibly Fijian with a token British player) Army taking on and defeating Bedford, the opening match ending 24-0. This was followed by the tightest of the first round matches, two first half tries from James Bailey helping Gloucester to a 21-17 win over Worcester. The well-supported local boys Harlequins then despatched Blackheath 43-0, and Northampton were beaten by Bath 26-12.
Leeds then met London Wasps, the Tykes taking the lead twice in a first half of two tries apiece. However, in the second period Wasps pulled away for a 27-12 win, to face in the quarter-finals the winners of Newcastle-London Irish.
Finally at 13.10 the Falcons took the field, and conceded the opening try to the Exiles from Reading. However, we recovered to lead at half time through a penalty try after Irish had held onto a long kick in a tackle, and then a breakthrough score from Mathew Tait. All tries were converted so far, giving us a 14-7 advantage. Unfortunately it didn’t last, as Irish attacked repeatedly in the second half and were just too good in attack for Newcastle, scoring a further three tries. The final score was a 24-14 defeat. The one consolation was that we had the second best record of the six losers so far, and so had guaranteed a place in the Plate competition later.
The final two first round matches were won by Leicester (40-5 against Bristol) and Saracens (31-12 over Sale), and the first quarter final threw up a repeat of last year’s final, the Army v Gloucester. Although the soldiers took an early 12-0 lead, Gloucester bounced back well and three tries, including two more from Bailey gave them a 12-19 win and revenge for a year earlier. The Cherry and Whites’ last four opponents would be Harlequins, who overcame a 0-10 deficit to defeat Bath 22-15, Simon Keogh crossing for the deciding score.
Another fightback looked on the cards from London Irish who were 26-7 down to Wasps at halftime, but the High Wycombe side finally won through 33-28, and Leicester beat Saracens 10-0.
Now it was time for the Plate. Worcester survived a Northampton fightback to win the first semi-final 19-14, before our Falcons returned onto the Twickenham turf to face Leeds. Yet again, the losing side went ahead early, Leeds scoring two unconverted tries which Lee Dickson answered with a converted score before half time. In the second half, captain Tom May took control of the situation and converted two tries after scoring them himself to take his side into another Plate final, this time to play Worcester.
The sideshow of the main competition saw the semi-finals won 14-7 by Gloucester over Harlequins and Wasps 22-12 against Leicester.
Then it was 17.05, and time for the main event – Worcester v Newcastle in the Plate Final!
Again it was Dickson who scored our opening try, which May converted, to give us a 7-0 lead at half time. However, in the second half Worcester played like a side possessed and it was again Tom May who converted his own try after a penalty on halfway to seal the Plate for the third time in four years. Worcester scored a consolation try, but Tom, Mathew and the lads were not to be denied and a 14-5 win meant a successful, trophy-winning start to 2005/06.
Oh, and Gloucester beat Wasps in the Cup competition.
So, a good start to the season considering on paper we had a much weaker squad than many other sides. It is a shame we didn’t keep up the early promise against London Irish and continue in the main tournament, but a trophy is a trophy and who are we to complain when the lads have just won one?
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