A smash and grab border raid sees The Falcons at the top of Pool 4 of the European Challenge Cup after a scrappy encounter at Netherdale. Although their Celtic League opponents were spirited opposition – particularly in defence - the Falcons must be disappointed not to have pressed home their overall superiority to force more tries and claim the crucial bonus point. In the end, just two scores for the visitors were forthcoming, one in each half from Toby Flood – starting at inside centre - and Matt Thompson, with Reivers’ skipper Paul Thomson getting his side’s solitary try, in the second half.

This part of the world is famous for its ‘four seasons in day’ weather and this was almost a classic example. A mild blustery morning was followed by a few hours torrential rain, giving way to clear skies in a still late afternoon as the 4pm kick-off approached. The excellent pre-match entertainment was provided by the Galashiels Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band, with Falcons fans making up about a quarter of a crowd of just over 4,000.

The home fans had an immediate boost as, within 30 seconds, the Reivers were awarded a penalty in the Falcons’ 22. The visitors were fortunate as Charlie Hore skewed his kick wide. With four minutes gone, Jonny Wilkinson booted the Falcons’ first penalty deep into the Reivers’ 22, but the line-out was lost and the danger was averted. However, two minutes later it was 3-0 to the Falcons as the Reivers went offside and Wilkinson slotted home in front of the posts. Samoa captain and former Falcon Semo Sititi may have been trying a bit too hard to impress his former employers when, on 12 minutes, he took a tap penalty and managed to kick the ball back over his head. Jamie Noon left the field after a bang on the nose on 14 minutes – it needed few stitches after the game – and was replaced temporarily by Dave Walder, who went to full-back after a rejig in the backs.

At last the Falcons managed to get into their stride. A good spell of pressure finally paid off with a try in corner for Toby Flood after good handling from Wilkinson and a final pass from Matt Burke. Wilkinson converted to make it 10-0. The Falcons then played their most impressive stuff of the match, with McCarthy and Charvis making the yards and Hall Charlton continuing his recent excellent form with some superb breaks. The Reivers were fortunate when Wilkinson missed a penalty on 24 minutes and shortly afterwards the same player failed with a drop goal attempt – although that may have been deflected. On 32 minutes there was no mistake though – when a 40m penalty made it 13-0 following more over-enthusiasm from Setiti. Noon and McCarthy were both prominent in the next attack and on 37 minutes it was 16-0 following another long rage penalty from Wilkinson.

The home side roused themselves in the closing minutes of the first half to nearly force a try after good work from Simon Danielli and Stuart Moffat. In the end though they had to settle for a penalty, which was slotted by Hore. So 16-3 at the break, with the Reivers leaving the field perhaps to reflect on their general lack of discipline at the breakdown.

With the clocks having gone back the previous night, darkness fell as the second half got under way – a half in fairness which saw precious little in the way of decent entertainment. On 43 minutes, a Hore penalty made it 16-6 after an offence by Matt Thompson in a ruck. Two minutes later a trademark high ball take over the shoulder from Mathew Tait on the wing raised a cheer from the travelling fans but there was groan shortly afterwards with another ‘Oh no, Jonny’s down’ moment with the fly half on the turf nursing his shoulder. Thankfully, he was soon up with no obvious ill-effects. With Hall Charlton being replaced by James Grindal minutes later following an injury to the scrum half’s knee, and then Rob Andrew replacing his props – Ward and Wilson on for Tino and Anderson – there was real stop-start feel to the game.

The Falcons regrouped and after some decent phases - with the back row instrumental in most things good - Toby Flood offloaded superbly to Matt Thompson who took an excellent line and burst through for a try. Wilkinson converted for 23-6.

Andy Buist made a welcome return to first team action on 61 minutes following his long-term injury as Luke Gross departed, with the Falcons’ fans eager to see the club’s two promising young locks - Parling and Buist - working in tandem. The rest was pretty frustrating though, as the Reivers’ defence was resolute against relentless but rather ponderous midfield crash ball tactics when more ball out wide would perhaps have paid greater dividends.

On 64 minutes the home crowd were given something to cheer with a score from prop Paul Thomson, the Reivers’ captain touching down after good pressure from the pack after a line-out. Hore missed the conversion and it remained 23-11. That, however, was really it for the home side. While the crowd perhaps sensed a late comeback it was their side’s continued ill discipline which let them down, with Italian referee Giulio De Santis punishing every mistake.

Owen Finegan replaced the excellent Mike McCarthy for the last fifteen minutes and on 69 minutes came the game’s final score with another Wilkinson penalty to make it 26-11. Two minutes later, a long-range effort sailed wide but a haul of 16 points represented a decent evening’s work for the fly half.

Sititi was awarded man of the match by the home club – he certainly made a few trademark powerful carries but there were a few noteworthy errors in his performance. For the Falcons, the man of the match could have been any one of a number of players. The starting back row, McCarthy, Charvis and Harris, were all very good and one of them probably deserved it.

November sees four tough Guinness Premiership games for the Falcons before a return to cup action in December. A visit to Headingley in the domestic competition is followed by back-to-back games against L’Aquila in Europe, both of which should see the Falcons as comfortable victors, hopefully with bonus points - to set up the final rounds in January.

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