Newcastle Falcons - We're back!! Championship winners

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell

Current Squad:

Forwards
Props:
Grant Shiels
Oliver Tomasczyk
Keiron Brookes
Scott Wilson

Hookers:
Matt Thompson
Rob Vickers
Scott Lawson

Second Rows:
Carlo Del Fava
Scott MacLeod
Sean Tomes
Frasier McKensie

Back Row
Ally Hogg
Will Welch
Richard Mayhew
Andy Saul
Mark Wilson
Chris York

Backs
SH's
Rory Lawson
Chris Pilgrim
Warren Fury
Mike Blair

Fh's
Joel Hodgson
Waisea Luveniyali
Rory Clegg
Phil Godman

Centres
Jamie Helleur
James Fitzpatrick
Tane Tu'ipulotu
Andrew Higgins
Alex Crocket
Michael Tait
Adam Powell
Danny Barnes - In from Munster

Wing:
Ryan Shortland
Andy Higgins
Suka Hufanga
Noah Cato

FB's:
Tom Catterick
Alex Tait

He played midweek in the 'A' League v Worcester...started and had a good game.

I think hes been injured...and with our back row strengths at the mo Deano is not rushing him back.

Another solid win.

And keeping the home side only at 3 points is some achievement.

Yeah good stuff...we got a penatly try from a scrum aswell...

Falcons v Rotheram Titans

Zach starts on the wing...
And its Ale night...
Cant wait...may have a bad head on Saturday...

1 Jonny Golding
2 Rob Vickers
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Scott MacLeod
6 Richard Mayhew
7 Will Welch (C)
8 Ally Hogg

9 Rory Lawson
10 Jimmy Gopperth
11 Tom Catterick
12 Tane Tu’ipulotu
13 Alex Crockett
14 Zach Kibirige
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 Matt Thomson, 17 James Hall, 18 Sean Tomes, 19 Chris York 20 Jordi Pasqualin, 21 Joel Hodgson, 22 James Fitzpatrick

Is this Gopperth's first start at 10 this season?

No mate he's played a couple.

I think Deano is (rightly) being sensible with Hodgson...and he is bringing Jimmy up from 15 during those rest times.

Looking forward to seeing TC and Zach on the wings tomorrow...they could be a very tasty duo...with Jimmy complimenting them as the cool level headed kicing full back when Hodgson comes off the bench at 10...

The Deano revolution is in full swing

Good call on Zach, looks quality.

Have been unimpressed so far with TC though , looks to have defensive issues. Looks a little out of sorts on the wing.

Well maybe Sarge...but he's a very skillfull player...with pace.

I always thought Fh was his spot...and he would have been battling it out with Hodgson.

Yea I've always seen him as a FH/FB

Maybe thats where Deano sees him at Fb and is letting him learn the skills in the not quite as critical position on the wing?

Aye possible GF, it's doing him no harm I suppose. I wonder if Wilson will start getting phased in too

If you mean Scott, yes i do..but Tomas has been very good in my opinion...but i do think he will continue to get gametime this season...theres no rush though and he's developing a nice partnership with Hallam on the LH for the development side.

If you look at the kids...Robinson, Wilson, Kbirige have all been given a brief amount of time...so they're being managed nicely (something i think Peter Russel has much to do with aswell...)

I also think it wont be long till we see another back rower Ben Morris getting a run out. His ratings in the A league have been very impressive.

Where are the second rowers and the hookers though?

A young centre or two is always nice too.

Built a quality side this season , who's been your guys fav new player?

Carlo Del Fava has to be mine , blokes a tank and don't think there is many better 4s in England than him. Lawes , Hamilton?

I like the Tomahawk, he definitely has the ability to become a cult figure! Favourite player overall has still got to be Will Welch though, he lives and breathes the club.

I think Del Fava has been a key part for us...a big physical presence in there.
I think Hogg looks rejuvanated...after i wrote him off this season

Tomas has been a very noticeable presence both in the tight and the loose..and its no mean feat to make you forget a top player like Euan Murray quickly...but hes just doing that!

And yes Will. What needs to be said.

33-0...decent win again for the guys in horrible conditions.

Hope Wills injury is not too serious.
I didnt realise how much pace Yorke had...he flew at one stage and hes a big fella.
Tomachyk did well again...i think your right he could become a falcons cult figure....
Kibirige scored a flying try on his debut...

What do you guys make of big Sean Tomes...he absolutely leveled one guy late in the game, hes one big boy...do you think Deano rates him?

Bedford's 1st defeat of the season 23-13 away to Bristol.

That's us 7pts clear at the top now

Yup...things just ticking along nicely...blooding players.

Rotheram started the game powerfully...and i thought their front row were gonna make it a long day at the office for our boys...but they just seemed to give in quickly.

Their hooker looked a good player...aside from the fact with his throwing he couldnt hit a barn door with a banjo...

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Bedford's 1st defeat of the season 23-13 away to Bristol.

That's us 7pts clear at the top now

Shame about the loss for Bedford as they are my favourite team in the Championship.

On the other hand it's great to see Newcastle in decent form. Let's be honest the AP needs a strong Northern side.

With Leeds and Sale floundering, Newcastle need to be the flag bearers.

And we will be

Your boy Shiells has been called into the Scotland squad for the AIs, Geordie:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20141988

I think its a good move by Robinson. The Falcons are developing a strong group of front rowers...and the competition for places will drive up the performances. Shiels is a good player.

Big game at the weekend...Bedford...

Should be a cracker...

Typically, I live just outside of Bedford Mon-Fri then travel back for weekends so won't be able to go.

I'm fancying a 7+ win but will be happy with just a win away to a good side.

Yeah i fancy a win...but ill not take anything for granted cos they are an excellent team...and just lost to Bristol so will be looking to get back on track.

Teams are up:

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Ryan Shortland, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Tane Tu’ipulotu, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Rory Lawson,

1 Jonny Golding, 2 Rob Vickers, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Sean Tomes, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Richard Mayhew, 8 Ally Hogg (c)

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 James Hall, 18 Taiasina Tu’ifua, 19 Chris York, 20 Jordi Pasqualin, 21 Joel Hodgson, 22 Jamie Helleur



Bedford:

15. James Pritchard (c)
14. Ben Ransom
13. Brendan Burke
12. Henry Staff
11. Josh Bassett

10. Jake Sharp
9. Luke Baldwin

1. Darren Fearn
2. Neil Cochrane
3. Phil Boulton
4. Paul Tupai
5. Mike Howard
6. Gregor Gillanders
7. Sacha Harding
8. Don Barrell

Replacements: 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Ricky Reeves, 18. Dan Seal, 19. Alex Rae, 20. Darren Fox, 21. Ali Price, 22. Mark Atkinson

They do have a tasty back 3 , Spurling off the bench could be huge for them.

Any ideas of score? Cant find it anywhere

Newcastle won 29-20

Well happy with that

What does the table look like now? We must be well out in front!

11pts clear

Good.

In theory we could be 20-30pts clear by the end of the season then lose in the playoffs, crazy.

There should be a 'mercy point' that if a team breaks a certain points barrier and there is no other team within say 15-20 points by the end of the season, then they should be automatically promoted. The developing situation just seems farcical.

Lads - ahead of the AIs, how is Rory Lawson playing at the moment?

He's been ok George , playing behind a dominate pack puts him in the a easy 80 minutes. Only in because of Pilgrim's injury.

It's all right Driver.

I'm sure that there's not that much difference between the All Blacks loosies and those of the Doncaster Knights. What could possibly go wrong?

Well good result, and i think that makes me confindent of making the play offs...however as mentioned above...a drop in form and a loss means the whole thing irrelevant if we lose in the play offs.

Hopefully the rotation Deano is using and the squad depth we are just beginning to see a little of will pay off.

Looks like ill not make the Nottingham game on Friday which could be another decent game.

But ill be there for the Tonga game...cant wait for that!

Im taking 24 people up to this fridays game

See they put 60 on bristol at the weekend.

We're doing quite nicely at the moment...but are there any areas or positions that you'd like to see us improve?

Hooker

Yeah thats my thought aswell...

Seems to be the only slight weakness GF. Vickers is good in the loose at this level but his throwing for a Saxons hook is awful.

Lindsay seems to be 2nd choice at Wasps these days, love to get him in.

Lindsays a crackin player...but his throwing isnt great either.

Actually i thought the Rotherham hooker looked a crackin player...he was carrying all over the place...and decent in the tight. His throwing was a bit woeful aswell though...

What is it with hookers and their throwing.

Apparently James Goode is joining up with Newcastle, until the end of hte season, again, on loan.

I'm sure Deano will have somebody earmarked GF.

Yea I seen that Scarlet, put in a decent shift for us last season. He's a good player and we have a mini injury crisis with Flava and Hudson out.

Yeah i saw that about Goode.

Tomes and McLeod will start against Nottingham on Friday i assume.

For all our academy produces alot of talent...its interesting that we have zero quality Second Rows coming through the academy...

Beaumont was quite highly regarded I think but he jumped to another sinking ship