Unbeaten Falcons aim to extend winning run
YOUNG – WE’RE BUILDING OUR MOMENTUM
MICHAEL Young hopes Newcastle Falcons can carry their Premiership Rugby Cup form into the league season by beating Bath at Kingston Park Stadium tomorrow night.
The Falcons have gone unbeaten in their four cup outings after a testing start to the Gallagher Premiership, the scrum-half keen to extend that run against his former team.
“We’ve had a rough start to the Premiership in terms of results but the break from that over the past month has allowed us to address certain areas of our game and make a bit of a fresh start,” said Young, who started in the Heineken Champions Cup wins over Toulon and Montpellier before being rested for the draw with Exeter and the away win over Harlequins.
“We’ve regained our ability to close out the tight games which served us so well last season, and the attitude and spirit of the boys has been exceptional.
“The lads have stuck in there, we need to build on those dogged qualities and take that kind of ruthlessness into our league games when they come round again.”
Newcastle’s management have a number of selection posers on their hands following the standards set by those who have come in during the cup windows.
“We always talk about our strength in depth and the fact that guys are getting opportunities in this competition, and the boys who have come in have certainly taken their chances,” said Young.
“That eradicates any complacency among the players who have been starting the Premiership and Champions Cup games, each position here is up for grabs and the competition even in training has been fantastic.”
Determined to seize any chance of silverware just two weeks before the Falcons and Bath do it all again in the league, Young added: “We’re trying to build our momentum going into the next block of Premiership games, but let’s not ignore the fact that the Premiership Rugby Cup is a trophy we want to win in its own right.
“If we can beat Bath then that would put us there or thereabouts at the top of our group, and it’s another continuation of the winning culture we’re trying to develop.
“We’re in a bit of a unique position in the sense that we play Bath again here in a fortnight’s time in the Premiership, so I guess both teams will be a bit cloak and dagger in terms of not wanting to show their hand too much.
“I think both teams will be a bit tactical in terms of keeping certain plays in reserve for the Premiership re-match, but it’s an exciting opportunity for guys to stake a claim. We want to put in a performance we can be proud of and to keep the ball rolling in terms of bringing positive results to the club.”
Tickets for tomorrow’s 7.45pm kick-off can be bought by calling 0871 226 6060.