By Leipziger
October 31 2005

Our Falcons missed out on any chance of Heineken Cup qualification, as a defiant first half performance was not enough to beat Gloucester at Kingsholm in the Wildcard semi-final.

After a few drinks in the Kingsholm pub, we all headed into the ground for what would be the Falcons’ last match of 2004/05.  Our side showed two changes from the XV that beat London Irish – Andy Long and James Grindal replacing Matt Thompson and Hall Charlton.  Thus our spine-quintet of internationals remained in place – Matt Burke, Jamie Noon, Jonny Wilkinson, Stuart Grimes and Colin Charvis.

 

Gloucester kicked off and had an early chance to score on the left but the final pass missed James Simpson-Daniela and Seti Kiole and fortunately went into touch.  Gloucester did all the attacking early doors, and Duncan McRae missed the first penalty of the day.  Wilkinson however made no mistake with a penalty on the left after Cory Harris was tackled going for the line and Gloucester were penalised.

 

However, the hosts kept up their pressure and would have scored in the 24^th minutes but for a knock-on in the 22.  The first try came on the half hour through James Forrester on the right; referee Tony Spreadbury ignoring the home full-back standing offside at a ruck in the build-up.  McRae this time scored the conversion.  Within a few minutes though Wilkinson had pulled three points back with a penalty for offside, leaving the score at 7-6.

 

Just before half time, we finally forged a try-scoring opportunity and Matt Burke cut through a multitude of Gloucester defenders and fought his way over the line for our solitary try, which Wilkinson converted.  Another missed penalty by McRae meant we went in at the break 7-13 ahead, despite having been outplayed for most of the first 40.

           

Gloucester again began the second half straight out of the blocks, and after five minutes home captain Adam Balding smashed his way to a try, but with McRae failing to covert we retained a slender 12-13 advantage.  This was extended soon as Charva was tackled five metres out and Wilkinson scored the resulting penalty.

           

But we lost the lead again, never to get it back, on 59 minutes as we lost a scrum in our own half, and from Gloucester’s put-in Forrester grabbed his second score on the right.

           

At 17-16 we were still in the game and Tom May made a long run infield from the right, only to be stopped by a last-ditch tackle five metres out.  May was penalised for holding on which, although it was the correct decision, was annoying as Spreadbury waited a long time to give it.

           

Wilkinson had our last scoring chance with ten minutes left, but his penalty from halfway missed amongst a chorus of noise from home fans.  After this, McRae scored two more penalties for Gloucester to seal their path to Twickenham.

           

And so it was, we were beaten 23-16 and have to be content with the Challenge Cup for our European rugby next season.  Quite a disappointment after a season that promised so much.

           

So let’s console ourselves with the fact that we did well in the Heineken Cup this season, Wilkinson, Charvis and Burke are all fit for the summer and Finegan is on the way.

           

And there’s always next year.