By Leipziger
April 17 2006

The Falcons pulled a stunning second half performance from nowhere today to defeat Sale 32-21. Despite being fortunate to trail only 13-16, Newcastle rallied in the last half hour to score three tries in fourteen minutes to secure their Premiership status for 2006/07.

The Falcons made five changes to the team which horrified us all in Bristol last week, with Mathew Tait, Anthony Elliott, Hall Charlton. Luke Gross and Geoff Parling all returning to the starting lineup from various embarkations last weekend.

 

Sale began the match as much the better team, as Andy Long through a wayward lineout on our 22, and after they spread the ball Sean Davey pulled back for a penalty which we cleared, but when Sale came back on a crossfield play to the left Tom May’s tackle couldn’t prevent Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe receiving a clear run in for the game’s first try.  Valentin Courrant converted.

 

Spanish international Oriol Ripol almost snuck through soon after but Mathew Tait was on hand to clear up on the 22, before Matthew Burke (who would later meff up a Garryowen and prove even he is not the Divine One) cut the deficit with a penalty.

 

Sale then received a good penalty of their own from a scrum won for a knock-on, and from that they won a penalty but Courrant missed the target.  Our first real chance of a try came through the middle with a forward play, but when we came right the attacker (Mark Mayerhofler?) failed to pass in time, and the opportunity was wasted.  Sale turned over the ball, and within a couple of minutes Ripol was all set to go over for another try, but the visitors were pulled back for crossing.  Courrant did extend the away lead soon after though with a penalty for 3-10.

 

Another Sale penalty followed for offside, despite Jason Robinson blatantly crossing in the build up, although Burke brought us back into BP range with a penalty of his own.  We came into a little spell of possession here, running a penalty from which Tait and Mayerhofler combined from to set Burke away, and when play was stopped in the Sale 22 prop Eifion Roberts was sin-binned.  We went for a couple of lineouts and finally Long was driven over for a try which Burke converted to level the scores.  Robinson however dropped a goal for Sale to ensure his side went into half time with the advantage.

 

At the break Rob Andrew sent on Jonny Williams, Ben Woods and Jonny Wilkinson for Micky Ward (who amazingly returned later in the game), the lively Cory Harris, and Mark Mayerhofler.  But, initially, it looked like whatever Newcastle had eaten or drank pre-match, they seemed to have had it at half-time too as Sale dominated the early proceeding of the later 40, and Ripol scored to seemingly (the way the performance was going) seal his side’s first ever win at Kinky Park.  Not so though.

 

Woods took a bobbler of a pass on the right, and fed the ball inside for Wilkinson and Burke to combine.  Flood missed the pass, and though Sale actually knocked on they got the scrum for Flood’s imaginary indiscretion.

 

Then it all happened.  Anthony Elliott daubed a pass and was clobbered to the disgust of the KP faithful, but we kept possession and moved right.  Tom May received a pass and held off tackles to go over for the try which Burke converted to put us within one point of Sale.

 

Just a couple of minutes later Elliott looked to go through on the left and he fed Tait.  Through Colin Charvis, we moved into the centre for May to fight through a tackle and score his second try in three minutes (who’s not a Premiership player?).  Burke converted to stretch the home lead to six points, and then a black tide came further forward again and drove a rolling maul forward, a scrum cap flying out of a maul before Geoff Parling, hatless, dived over for another score to secure the bonus point and probably at least two for the Geordies.

 

Although there was still ten minutes to go, having dominated the first 50 minutes, Sale seemed to have no reply and for once the last few minutes appeared to be played out in the midfield, and so Newcastle looked to be in little danger of losing,.

 

Sale, for me, seemed not to attack as relentlessly as most away teams do when they are losing, and the Falcons retained their Premiership status with a win over the league leaders, Sale who haven’t now won against up here us in 24.

 

But that was little spuds.  We now only have two games that matter this season (that being because defeat to Irish is NOT an option - after missing out in 2005/06 we MUST be in the Heineken!).  Shout yer nuts off your both of them!