Thrillers like this give Cup a good name!
THE Anglo-Welsh Cup has its critics – and deservedly so at times – but this thrill-aminute contest shows there is still a place for the much-maligned tournament.
Defence may have been at a premium but it felt churlish to criticise those inadequacies when the respective sides were regularly willing to chance their arm from deep.
Both teams found the wide open spaces of the Ricoh Arena to their liking, with 14 tries in all, but it was the Falcons who just about edged the game, pouncing on some loose Wasps’ errors in the second half.
Amid several impressive individual performances, it was Adam Radwan who shone the brightest. The next step for the talented winger must surely be the Premiership having done his utmost in the two second-tier competitions over recent weeks.
“Adam is putting pressure on the wingers who play in the Premiership,” Newcastle coach James Ponton said. “In the Premiership, defences are organised and they will target him and it’s just how he would handle something like that.
“Our other wingers have got a bit more experience and are a little bit stronger in contact. Niki Goneva can fend people off whereas Adam is still developing that skill.”
Radwan is indicative of what the Anglo-Welsh can offer for academy players: an action-packed, free-flowing contest that sees young players expressing themselves on a grander stage.
The Willis brothers are another example. Although they have already had a taste of Premiership rugby, with Jack particularly impressing during his brief forays on the field, this was another opportunity for them to show their qualities.
They were excellent in the opening 20 minutes, dominating in contact and displaying a range of skills with the ball. Jack Willis was the first to make his mark – touching down following Craig Hampson’s pass – before Tom went on a barnstorming run from the restart.
Play was then shifted to the right where his brother was lurking and he produced a delightful back-of-the-hand off-load for Aaron O’Sullivan to cross.
Wasps were at their high- tempo best and a shellshocked Newcastle received another setback when an intricate move resulted in Owain James touching down.
At 19-3 in arrears – the Falcons had scored first via the boot of Craig Willis – it was certainly not what the Tynesiders had envisaged, but the visitors re-gathered their thoughts.
Three tries in 10 minutes was the result of their potency in attack. Radwan got their first before Santiago Socino benefited from a well-controlled maul.
Replacement Simon Uzokwe then completed an excellent period for the Kingston Park-based outfit as they went 22-19 ahead, but Rob Miller levelled the match from the tee.
It was very much a case of ‘more of the same’ after the break with the sides trading blow-for-blow. Guy Armitage and James scampered over for Wasps but Gary Graham and Radwan levelled the game going into the final quarter.
That is where the Falcons asserted their authority with Joel Hodgson, Andrew Davidson and Uzokwe completing the victory in the last 20 minutes, despite Armitage’s second try keeping the Midlanders in the contest until the end.