Newcastle Falcons 14, Worcester Warriors 3
Nov 2 2009 by Nick Purewal, The Journal
The home side might have doubled their lead when Amesbury and Vickerman combined well on a right-wing scissors, but the final ball was just too low even for Young to scoop up.
Substitute Josh Afu thought he had scored after charging down Ryan Powell to bundle home, but referee Sean Davey pulled play back for offside from Gopperth’s rangy garryowen that no Warrior could field.
Young’s sensible and well-executed grubber into the corner had Bates’ men dreaming of a second score before the break, but to no avail.
The second half opening mirrored the sloppiness of the first. Amesbury let a high ball bounce, forcing others to mop up before Young knocked on at scrum. The Falcons immediately won a penalty at the next set-piece, then promptly fluffed the lineout. From the second line Newcastle won a scrum, and Gopperth landed his second penalty of the match when Worcester were offside in midfield.
As Worcester struggled for some momentum the game died away in the unrelenting cold, with Worcester only managing a solitary Willie Walker penalty for nearly 10 minutes of pressure.
The ever-sprightly Vickerman cleverly nicked possession to stir the home side after Worcester returned Tane Tu’ipulotu’s neat line kick with interest.
But from the resulting scrum the Falcons made another mess to concede possession just when they should have been killing off the contest.
Worcester were just as profligate though, with Ryan Powell doubtless never wanting to relive his untimely knock-on that handed the Falcons all they needed.
Trying to jump-start one last attack from his own 22 with a quick tap from a free-kick, Powell spilled the ball, handing Newcastle a scrum plum in front of the sticks. And when the pack were penalised for breaking early, the Falcons finally had the chance they needed to bury the visitors.
Blasting the ball home, Gopperth called time on a nasty, niggly gruel-fest that would be one to forget, if the win was not so important to the Falcons.
NEWCASTLE: Amesbury, Williams, Vickerman, Tu’ipulotu, Biggs, Gopperth, Young, Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Hudson, Sorenson, Wilson, Welch, Levi. Replacements: Bobo for Williams (55), Ward for Golding (59), Walker for Vickers (66), Swinson for Sorenson (49), Afu for Wilson (30). Not used: Ovens, Charlton, Miller.
WORCESTER: MacRae, Gear, Grove, Tuitupou, Benjamin, Walker, Powell, C. Black, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Wood, Abbott, Sanderson. Replacements: Arr for Powell (77), A. Black for C. Black (70), Fortey for Lutui (54), Bowley for Gillies (54), Talei for Abbott (54). Not used: Gilding, Crook, Garvey.
SCORING: Newcastle – Tries: Vickers; Pens: Gopperth 3; Worcester – Pens: Walker.
Referee: Sean Davey.
Attendance: 4,924
