Mark Wilson try inspires Falcons to victory
THIS was a rather apt time for Newcastle to produce their worst performance of the season.
At times they were outplayed, at others they were mistake-ridden, but the Premiership high-flyers ultimately had just about enough quality to put away a spirited Dragons side.
For a high-scoring affair it was a frustrating game. Errors pervaded the encounter and both sides displayed an outstanding ability to gift the opposition soft tries.
Newport were the culprits in the first half, as Adam Radwan marked a rare start by punishing the visitors’ inability to collect the bouncing ball, before the tables were turned after the interval.
It allowed the Welsh region to come back from 15-6 down and head into the final quarter 27-22 in front, but Mark Wilson’s wellworked effort took the Falcons home.
“We were a bit frustrated with ourselves because we were inaccurate in certain areas,” Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards said. “We tried to push a bit too much at times and they’re not a bad side.
“We didn’t capitalise on the chances that we had and we gave them a couple of chances we wouldn’t ordinarily give.”
Despite Richards’ grievances with his team’s display, credit must go to the visitors who were vastly improved from their previous away games.
Sarel Pretorius and Angus O’Brien were excellent in the second period, producing performances that will no doubt give their supporters plenty of heart.
Before this encounter the Dragons had been simply atrocious on the road, shipping 130 points in three games at Edinburgh, Ulster and Cardiff Blues.
Although their defensive insecurity once again came to the fore yesterday there were indications, particularly at half-back, that they have managed to find the right formula.
The signs were not initially positive for Bernard Jackman’s men, however, when the Falcons pressurised their line early on. Newcastle’s pack went to work and, following a number of phases inside the 22, Rob Vickers – the prolific try-scoring prop – crossed the try-line from a metre out.
O’Brien responded from the tee for the Dragons before Toby Flood restored the hosts’ seven-point buffer after 25 minutes.
Although Newport reduced the arrears via the boot of their stand-off, the
Tynesiders hit back as a poor mistake in backfield allowed them to spread the ball wide, where Radwan was lurking to score.
At 15-6 down, the Welsh region could have folded but, led by their impressive set-piece and the contributions of playmakers Pretorius and O’Brien, they eased their way back into the contest.
They showed plenty of dexterity with ball in hand and an excellently worked move, which involved Jared Rosser and Will Talbot-Davies, saw Rynard Landman touch down.
Perhaps more surprisingly, following the introduction of Tom Davies and Brok Harris, the Dragons also began to control the scrum battle. With Newcastle therefore under increasing duress, Ashton Hewitt pounced on a mistake and went over unopposed.
Richards desperately needed a response from his charges and he got it via the maul as the visitors proved powerless to stop Gary Graham from claiming their third try.
Still, Jackman’s side remained composed and regained the lead when Pat Howard outpaced the cover defence to score in the corner for a 27-22 advantage.
It could have been the decisive moment but the Falcons showed why they have improved so considerably over the last two years by putting together an excellent attack.
Both simple and clinical in its execution, Wilson crossed to take back the lead before Flood completed the win with a penalty.