Falcons hit quick triple with Tipuric in sin bin
NEWCASTLE scored 21 points in nine minutes to turn this game on its head and progress to the quarter-finals with an away tie at Leicester.
For the first half-hour a seemingly disinterested Newcastle allowed Ospreys a free rein as the hosts compiled a 14-0 lead.
But, out of nowhere, Falcons raised their game as their opponents selfimploded picking up two yellow cards with Newcastle taking full advantage to turn the game their way.
“The dressing room is devastated as this was an important competition for us,” Ospreys director of rugby Toby Booth said.
“We started the game well but relinquished control with ill-discipline being our undoing as you don’t expect to win games if your penalty count is in the teens.”
In that first half-hour, Justin Tipuric was everywhere and Ospreys looked in total control with Luke Price marshalling the back division which enabled Keiran Williams and George North to regularly test the defence.
After Newcastle had raised their game they were led by whole-hearted performances from George McGuigan and Callum Chick with the experience of Micky Young at scrumhalf ensuring that his side took most of the correct options to get them over the winning line.
Ospreys opened the scoring with an excellent team try with a move that began in their own half. North began it by making ground down the right flank with Price making a number of key contributions before sending Williams over.
Three minutes later, Ospreys had a second when Keelan Giles raced away before kicking ahead with Dan Evans up in support to score.
Newcastle’s cause was hindered by the concession of frequent penalties at the breakdown so it took them until the 30th minute to enter the opposition 22 but when they did they certainly made it count.
Ospreys skipper Justin Tipuric was sin-binned for a no-arms tackle and Newcastle capitalised with three tries in quick succession. First Trevor Davison forced his way over from close range before Ospreys collapsed a driving lineout with the referee awarding a penalty try and sending Adam Beard to the sin-bin.
A minute after the halftime restart, Falcons lock Sean Robinson finished off a well-constructed move which provided a perfect illustration of how to score against 13 men. Tipuric and Beard returned before Price kicked a penalty but replacement Christoffel Van Der Walt extended Newcastle’s lead by crashing over after a succession of forward drives.
Tom Botha scored Ospreys’ third try from close range with Mark Wilson picking up a yellow card for a deliberate offside to set up a tense finish but Falcons held on.
Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards said: “We gave Ospreys too much respect in the first 20 minutes when Justin Tipuric had a field day.
“We were up against a strong side with six or seven internationals and blessed with experience so I’m pleased how we got back into the game and understood what was needed when they went down to 13.”