NEWCASTLE FALCONS 38 BORDEAUX 17 Falcons’ vintage performance in Bordeaux battle

NEWCASTLE Falcons returned to the top of their European Challenge Cup group and preserved their unbeaten record after completing the double over Bordeaux-Begles at Kingston Park Stadium yesterday.

Both sides showed commendable attacking intent in an open and entertaining contest, Newcastle leading 38-17 after a whirlwind opening half.

A helter-skelter start produced three tries in the first nine minutes, the first seeing Falcons lock Calum Green dot down in the right corner after forward pressure had sucked in the defensive numbers.

Craig Willis converted from out wide, but it was level pegging when a line-break from Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert allowed scrum-half Yann Lesgourges to score on a simple supporting line.

Newcastle nosed ahead almost from the kick-off when Willis’ bust down the left allowed the supporting Adam Radwan a run-in to the left corner, Willis’ conversion bouncing back off the post to leave the Falcons’ lead at five points.

Jalibert chipped three off with a longrange penalty from right of centre, and went one better when his sensational solo run put the visitors into a five-point lead.

The Falcons had a try denied by the TMO when Craig Willis thought he had reached out of a tackle to score, and they were held up over the try line following a sequence of pick-and-goes, but there was no denying the weight of pressure when Mark Wilson barrelled over from the fringes of a close-range ruck.

Willis’ conversion put the Falcons two points ahead, and his side had the fourtry bonus point in the 31st minute when Will Witty’s line-break and wide pass freed Radwan for his second try down the left, Willis again slotting the extras.

Hooker Ben Sowrey pumped his legs from 40 metres out, showing incredible power to ride a covering tackle for an

BATH director of rugby Todd Blackadder was dealt a double blow as Taulupe Faletau suffered a knee injury during the 24-20 Champions Cup defeat at Toulon.

Wales and British and Irish Lions number eight Faletau injured his left knee at a ruck in front of his own posts when he was cleaned out in the

unconverted try in the left corner. But the try of the game was saved for the very last play of the half when Newcastle forced a knock-on right next to their own try line. Rather than simply kicking the ball out for half time Sam Stuart raced to the 22, getting away an offload and setting in motion a length-of-the-field attack which involved seven separate players, Willis the man to ground the ball when his grubber ahead bounced back off the post.

His simple conversion from in front sent the Falcons into the changing room 38-17 up, supporters and players grateful for the chance to draw breath after a simply stunning display of attacking intent.

The second half began with more structure and less free-flowing running than the first, the home side playing a more territorial game through the boot of Wil-

48th minute.

“I hope it’s not the same knee as he injured last season, but it doesn’t look good,” said Blackadder after the narrow defeat.

Bath had the better of the first half but Toulon turned up the heat in the second half victory moved the French giants three points clear of Bath at the top of Pool 5.

lis, Matavesi and Hammersley. But it was Bordeaux who broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when right wing Geoffrey Cros intercepted a wide pass from 40 metres out to race in for a converted try.

Newcastle responded through Alex Tait when the winger supported Mark Wilson’s line-break to score near the posts, Joel Hodgson slotting the conversion before creating a 77th minute try for Matavesi, the conversion of which was the final score of a memorable encounter.