Mat finish adds gloss as lowly Falcons stun high-flying Bristol

FLYING Argentine wing Mateo Carreras lit up Kingston Park last night with a brace of tries as bottom club Newcastle Falcons beat leaders Bristol Bears. Carreras stole the show and capped a fine individual performance with a scintillating try at the end of an absorbing match. The 22-year-old was fed the ball on the left touchline, deep in Newcastle’s half, before turning on the gas and flying past — and sometimes through — the Bristol backline to touch down in the corner. The quality of the try was matched by the ecstatic celebrations of the Falcons’ players and substitutes.

Little wonder, for this was their first victory of the season — enough to lift them off the bottom of the fledgling Gallagher Premiership table. After last weekend’s thumping by troubled Worcester, Falcons had needed a response. Yet Carreras warned afterwards: ‘This is a great step but we have to do this every weekend, trust in the coach and trust in our team-mates.’ Carreras’ first try and one each for Connor Collett and George McGuigan gave the hosts a 17-3 lead at the break.

A predictable onslaught from Bristol at the start of the second half ensured a decent contest and Newcastle lost Collett and Sean Robinson to yellow cards. Henry Purdy and Richard Lane touched down for Bristol but Tian Schoeman kicked crucial points for Falcons to steady their nerves before Carreras ran 60 metres to score and seal a bonus point.

‘That’s special, top class,’ coach Dave Walder said of the abracadabra moment, adding: ‘The intensity and attitude was much better.’