By Leipziger
April 14 2007

Toby Flood’s spectacular first half try was enough for the Falcons pull off a second scrappy home win in six days last night, as Kingston Park said goodbye to Friday night rugby for the season with a defeat of Gloucester. England’s number 10® was named man of the match on a night when he was everywhere around the backs, running the show from fly-half when injury forced Jonny Wilkinson from the field, and having scored the sole try his name reverberated around the ground at the final whistle.

With Phil Dowson in the team for the first time this year and some guy called Cieron McDonald making his debut at loosehead prop, the Falcons made heavy work of what turned out to be a ninth successive home win and hit Gloucester’s title hopes.

In a first half full of elementary errors from the home sides, including a few drops and a less-than-well functioning lineout, Gloucester controlled possession in the Falcons half, and were 3-6 up after12 minutes, Ryan Lamb scoring two penalties to Jonny Wilkinson’s one.

With the Cherry ‘n’ Whites on the attack on the home 22, Lamb attempted a drop goal but the kick was charged down by Wilkinson who made a speedy break upfield. He passed to Flood on his shoulder and Noah legged through the hesitant Gloucester defence, almost daring them to tackle. The tackle only came however metres from the tryline, but Flood scampered over for the score. Wilkinson converted to put his side ahead for the first time.

The game continued in a scrappy manner with neither side being able to make much progress upfield. A second Wilkinson penalty gave us some daylight but Lamb kept his team in the game with three more points just before half time.

In the second 40 the Falcons seemed to acquit themselves better with more possession, but it was still breaks and long runs which looked to be our best chance of scoring, with Rudd and Tait both attempting to get their skates on and going close. The evergreen Matthew Burke was replaced early in the half by Loki Crichton before referee Tony Spreadbury, a target for abuse all night, was forced off with injury too.

It wasn’t an easy night for the medical fraternity at KP, as Wilkinson damaged ribs and Mike Tindall was stretchered off with a possible broken leg after a clash with Flood. With Flood now at fly-half, he kicked a long range penalty straight through the posts to a roaring cheer from a rocking stadium, before another kick minutes later put us into a ten-point lead at 19-9.

Gloucester’s own replacement kicker Willie “Wonka” Walker saved a bonus point with seven minutes to go, and the Falcons managed to run the clock down keeping the play tight before getting the ball out to win what hadn’t been the most spectacular match, but was certainly an intriguing contest.