By Ridley
October 20 2002

Falcons are safely through to the next round of the Parker Pen after seeing off a resolute Grenoble at Kingston Park. Michael Stephenson got a second half hat trick to warm us up and take us to an aggregate of 52-29.

Now its Treviso in the second round - familiar ground for Falcons. The Italians osaw off Castres 33-17 in France winning 55-20 on aggregate.

Stevo's hat trick was much needed. Grenoble gave it a good go in the first half and were 10-9 up at half time. Jonny got the firest scores with three penalties as the French showed far too much indiscipline.

Eventually hooker Laurent Pedrosa was sin-binned but the 14 men came back with a vengeance. Rees kicked a penalty and then Ruckus Lubbe finished off a lumbering forwards move and Rees converted.

Falcons weren't too unphased even though our overall lead was down to six points. Phil Godman came on for Tom May and went to fly half, leaving our Jonny to produce a cameo performance at centre as he guided his future understudy through the second half. Godman did enough to show he won't let anybody down.

Falcons began to produce tthe handling we have been missing this season. Jonny got a penalty and then we got our first try when Epi set off down the wing supported by Arnold and Vyvyan. Wilkinson joined in and timed his pass to perfection to let Stevo touch down for his first.

Five minutes later he got his second after playing football with a Wilkinson chip. Hall Charlton started the love for the third with Botham opening a gap and sending Stevo away.

Grenoble came back when prop Antony Vigna went over but we were home and dry by then.

Falcons: Botham, Taione, Noon, May [Godman 40], Stephenson, J Wilkinson [capt], Charlton [Grindal 65], Ward [Hurter 50], Brotherston [Thompson 55], Hurter [Isaacson 40], Grimes, Hamilton, Dunbar [Otuvaka 75], Arnold [Dowson 60], Vyvyan.

Grenoble: Carmona, Joubert [Beale 55], Lubbe, Yates, plisson, Rees, Authier [ Mitu 50], Balan [Vigna 55], Pedrosa, Lopresti [Lechevalier 55], Jackson, Matiu [Correau 65], Olivier [Pardon 50], Corodeanu, Chazelet [capt].