NEWCASTLE Falcons’ day of destiny has finally arrived, with the Kingston Park club fighting for their Aviva Premiership lives in Bath.
The equation for Alan Tait’s side is simple. Win and they are safe to embark on a 15th consecutive top-flight campaign after surviving their annual brush with the drop once more.
Fail to win and desperate glances will be cast the way of the East Midlands, where semi-final chasers Northampton host bottom side Leeds Carnegie.
Just one point separates Newcastle from their fellow northern strugglers going into this afternoon’s season finale, although a points difference 105 better than the Yorkshire side effectively adds another point to that buffer.
So should the Falcons fail to garner any match points at the Recreation Ground, hands will be clasped in prayer and eyes pointed skyward in the hope Leeds fail to claw the two points which would see them complete the great escape for the second season running.
With one match point on offer for a defeat of less than eight points, another for scoring four or more tries in a game and two for a draw, the Yorkshire side do not even need to win in the event the Falcons draw a blank in the Roman city.
If Newcastle were hoping for any favours from Northampton, they can think again, with Saints boss Jim Mallinder having rested seven of his front-line stars for the Franklin’s Gardens clash.
England tyros Chris Ashton and Ben Foden still start against Leeds, but forward stars Soane Tonga’uiha, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes are among those dropped down to the bench in readiness for their knock-out exploits later this month.
To their credit Newcastle have never asked for, nor expected, any favours from their rivals, with Tait (pictured) fully aware destiny is still in his own side’s hands.
The head coach, whose team go in search of only their fifth win in their 22nd league outing of the season said: “You have to be confident, and you just have to hope everybody is professional in doing their jobs and not worrying about scores from elsewhere.”
