By Leipziger
February 23 2014

A bonus-point defeat to Northampton at Kingston Park yesterday takes Newcastle Falcons twelve points clear of Worcester at the bottom of the Premiership, and that should be enough to secure a second season back in the top flight.

The Warriors, who have lost all fifteen league games this season, need to get thirteen more points than the Falcons in the final seven games and that looks quite unlikely, even with the two teams meeting in Newcastle next month.

Although the table-topping Saints extended the Falcons’ losing run in the Premiership to nine matches and four months, there was a hint of optimism in the air post-match after a massive second-half effort saw the Falcons recover from 6-19 down and eventually lose 16-22 thanks to Noah Cato’s late try and Joel Hodgson’s conversion.

For the second consecutive week, the Falcons conceded early tries to high-quality opponents but kept their cool to come back and come close to stealing a win. With better finishing, Newcastle could well have upset Northampton.

Missing Scott Lawson, away on international duty, the injured Andy Saull, the Falcons were almost blown away by an incisive away attack in the first half, the Saints scoring three tries through James Wilson (two) and Tom Stephenson, the latter claiming his first Premiership try on only his second league start.

Northampton controlled much of the first half, aided by some lax refereeing of the breakdown, but while the Falcons didn’t see enough of the ball, they defended resolutely and looked to counter-attack whenever possible. Noah Cato and Ryan Shortland on the wings saw plenty of action but the hosts had to be content with two penalties from Rory Clegg at half-time.

Whether the Saints slacked off in the second half, even without their own bonus point secure, or the Falcons were galvanised by the half-time oranges, after the break Newcastle were firing and put Northampton under almost relentless pressure. Battering on the line, the home crowd was disappointed when a penalty was kicked through the posts rather than sent to the corner, even if it did reduce the deficit to 9-19.

Northampton almost immediately restoring their thirteen-point lead with a penalty didn’t help, although it did suggest that Northampton were a little rattled, taking the points rather than looking for the fourth try.

Adam Powell and Mark Wilson led the Falcons’ efforts to find the elusive try. Cato had a chance but was hauled down in the 22. With time ticking down, Dean Richards replaced Clegg with Joel Hodgson, the livewire youngster getting a rare league outing.

The try came just minutes from the end, with Cato intercepting a loose pass thirty metres out on the right and storming for the line, touching down just ahead of the desperate away defenders. The conversion in the wind was difficult, but Hodgson put the pressure and the weather to one side and sent the ball through the posts to put the Falcons six points behind, and on course for a bonus point.

Neither side were able to score again, and finally in the dying seconds the Falcons put the ball out from a scrum to make safe the point that increases the gap to Worcester in the Premiership relegation battle.

It was not a win, but after a huge comeback, the Falcons were cheered off the pitch and will now go into next weekend’s televised hosting of Leicester in good confidence.