Carl Hayman hails Falcons teamwork as key to success

Nov 3 2009 by Nick Purewal, The Journal

FOSTERING the devolution of power, Carl Hayman is delighted his Newcastle Falcons team-mates are seeking out greater responsibilities.

Falcons captain Hayman powered his side to a second straight Guinness Premiership victory on Sunday, with Rob Vickers grabbing the only try as Newcastle beat Worcester 14-3 at Kingston Park.

At the end of a week fighting the flu and not training, only All Black Hayman could step off the sickbed to provide such a typical, top-quality performance.

Any mere mortal coping with the lingering effects of that illness would not have ventured past their door into Sunday’s ghastly wind and rain – but then Hayman continues to prove his huge worth, and each week in a slightly different way.

Given his inability to train ahead of the Warriors clash, it was a good thing, he said, that his team-mates were clamouring for greater input across the park.

Happy to spread the work and share the burden, Hayman said it is vital that other senior pros in key positions across the pitch play their own part in team development.

“Of course there’s been a feeling-out period as everyone settles in,” he said, “but now guys are taking a lot of ownership for their specific areas of the field.

“Guys like Mark Sorenson and James Hudson with the lineout, and guys like Jimmy Gopperth in the backline, are all really coming to the fore in terms of giving the guys direction on the field.

“As captain that’s really helpful to have those guys around and easing that process there.