Richards rues tries that got away as bonus point goes begging

DEAN Richards was left ruing two tries that got away from his Falcons side in their 17-6 Premiership win over Worcester Warriors in the battle of the bottom two.

Zach Kiribige, who bagged a brace last week against Exeter, looked to have racked up another double, only to have his second effort ruled out by the TMO for a suspect grounding after a brilliant chip and chase.

Prop Logovi’i Mulipola was also denied a score when referee Wayne Barnes judged him offside as Toby Flood kicked through. Man-of-the-match Flood did score a try and converted his own score, and that of Kibirige, as well as kicking a penalty – while his opposite number Duncan Weir’s two penalties were the only points on the board for Worcester.

“The slight disappointment is that we’re not sitting here with five points instead of four which we’d set our sights on,” said the Newcastle director of rugby. “But I’m happy enough with the four points, although the boys are disappointed they didn’t score a couple more tries.” Denying Worcester a losing bonus point means the gap at the bottom is now down to five points and Richards added: “Worcester are a difficult team to beat but I thought we tore them apart in the first half and we could have been sat here with four tries and five points.

“That’s not decrying Worcester’s ability, but says more about the intensity with which we have trained this week and what we took into the game.

“I thought we were fantastic in the first half and scored two great tries and probably should have had another two. What we have to do is make sure in future to take that intensity into the second half.

“Having said that, the conditions in the second half were difficult with a very wet ball.

“Zach played really well and if he’s busy like that, the chances will keep coming along and all he has do is take that into next week and the week after and the week after that again. He played very well today.”

Newcastle face a trip to Wasps on Saturday while Worcester take on leaders Exeter.

Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons know he has to get his side back on track.

“It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance. They won the collisions throughout the first half and we weren’t in the game in that first half,” Solomons said.

“The second half we struggled for territory and possession and, while neither side scored, our line-out didn’t function and we made too many errors and as a consequence we could never get a foothold.

“Newcastle fully deserved their win on the day.”