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

Oh mate thats a horrible thought!!!

If you played Clegg at 10 and a kicker in the back three then you may be laughing.

Likewise Clegg at 12 outside your kicker at 10. Even when flaky Clegg still has a lovely passing and off loading game, constant game time could only make that better.

Clegg at 12 could be an option, we need some distribution as Powell seems to be lacking in this area.

I'm hoping Lawson will improve the lineout, it's pretty dreadful at the minute.

Really enjoyed the game as a Falcons fan. I was stood in the middle of the Bedford fans and they seemed less than impressed with the ref, one guy in particular was very vocal(although his knowledge of the rules was pretty lacking and he came across like a right idiot).

A few scrum decisions were 50/50 but on the whole I think it evened out, we certainly can feel aggrieved by Gopperth getting pinged as he wasn't tackled imo and our rolling maul was often dragged down in the 22.

I totally agree on Gopperth, he's tried to pass it about a bit more but Dorian and then Sharpe had superior distribution skills and looked to get the ball away much quicker.

I can't see us losing the return leg with Bedfords pack not up to much, fingers crossed for next week.

Should be a full house i think...come on you falcons...

So, Warren Fury. When I see him he is total pants, yet Deano who is no mug keeps picking him.

Is it possible that there are compromising pictures of Deno and Lancaster together, with both Fury and Calum Clark having copies?

LT,

I dont think ive met a Falcon fan who rates Fury....just dont understand it one bit. Lawson isnt great...but hes WAY ahead of Fury.

I think your right about the photos....

Unchanged Side Named for Final decider...

Newcastle Falcons:
1 Grant Shiells
2 Rob Vickers
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Scott MacLeod
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ally Hogg

9 Warren Fury
10 Jimmy Gopperth,
11 Ryan Shortland
12 Adam Powell
13 Suka Hufanga
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait,

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Jonny Golding, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 James Hudson, 20 Taiasina Tu’ifua, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Waisea Luveniyali

Not surprised, will get the job done like they did a few days ago.

My main worry though, is I hope we don't persist with Fury into next season...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Unchanged Side Named for Final decider...

Newcastle Falcons:
1 Grant Shiells
2 Rob Vickers
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Scott MacLeod
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ally Hogg

9 Warren Fury
10 Jimmy Gopperth,
11 Ryan Shortland
12 Adam Powell
13 Suka Hufanga
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait,

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Jonny Golding, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 James Hudson, 20 Taiasina Tu’ifua, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Waisea Luveniyali

Best of luck Geordie man - you won't need it though. You won't give up that lead and you won't make the kind of mistakes that you'd need to in order to throw this away.

Will be great to see you back up with Mike Blair in the box seat next season. Bye bye Mr Fury.

Yeah, IF we can do this final push tonight...it will be fascinating to see who we bring in. Mike Blair will be a brilliant signing...and another is Fraser McKensie adding to our scottish contingent...and aparently a second row of some considerable potential.

We have a few guys not getting any younger...AND recently we havent looked like threatening the try line..so that will need to be corrected.

But i suspect Deano has said play the basics and win...sod any fancy stuff...which im fine with if it achieves the ultimate goal...promotion back to the AP.

It feels a bit ridiculous that that a team that we have already beaten four times this season get a chance to decide if we get to the Premiership or not, but hey ho..... C'mon Falcons!

I cannot stand it when teams with an 'advantage' go for a drop goal - even if it goes over you don't actually gain anything you wouldn't if they just threw the ball to the floor and took the penalty.

Still, Falcons not had much of the game but now effectively 12 - nil up. Good start.

I know, it shows such a lack of ambition....

Hmmm, all Bedford at the moment. If they were to get the next score it could get very nervy. Damn!

Get in! Much better build up there!

Get in! Almost did their best to butcher the chance though. Hopefully that'll settle some nerves.

Their fly half looks like he goes to the Andy Goode fitness school.

That was dreadful, why didn't they just thump it?

Needed that. Reckon that was the Blues' half.

Their FH Sharpe is fat but pretty handy.

That Gopperth kick was well needed

Looks like Bedford were playing with the wind in that half. No commentary in the pub here owing to the England footy game. At least we managed to get the game on on one of the screens.

Good kicking from the Bedford 10 so far.

Well played Falcons, you deserved that Just a pity you had to jump through hoops to get it. Best of luck in the Prem

Congrats Newcastle. Hopefully you'll progress next season and join the likes of Quins and Saints following their relegation

Congrats Falcons. Have a few in the Twin Farms if you were at the game.

We came through...we've kind of stumbled across the line but great atmosphere tonight...now we need some additions...mike Blair will do nicely for starters....

Meet up pre-season I reckon!

Well done for Geordie, Cumbrian, Pooly and everyone in the north.

Lovely to see you back.

Congrats Falcons, good to see you back in the top flight

Much recruitment to be done?

Yeah i think we're strong in some spots Asbo, but a few areas we can invest in...now we're confirmed i think a few more will come in.
At the moment we have confirmed, Clegg returning, Fraser McKensie (Second Row from Sale...looks a very interesting one) and Mike Blair.

Maybe now also Peter Russels links with NZ might come fruition...i'd like to see a team of quality local youngsters like Scott Wilson, Zach Kibirige, Hodgson, Mark Wilson etc with a smattering of world class foreigners...

Chuffed for the lads, and the fellow falcon fans...but can i just say this is a chance now for the RFU to sort out the farce that is having a play off for a team that was so far ahead...as Bristol was last year...

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Meet up pre-season I reckon!

Sounds a plan mate, hopefully they'll have another preseason day with the three games...Leeds, Rotherham and there was a local game.

It was a cracking day, sun was shining with a nice few beers.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah i think we're strong in some spots Asbo, but a few areas we can invest in...now we're confirmed i think a few more will come in.
At the moment we have confirmed, Clegg returning, Fraser McKensie (Second Row from Sale...looks a very interesting one) and Mike Blair.

McKenzie is as good as you hope, Geordie. A genuine Nathan Hines enforcer, the like of which we haven't seen in a young Scottish player before - he would already have been capped for Scotland if he hadn't feiced his shoulder before the 6N. He's an excellent young prospect.

Has Scott MacLeod committed for a couple of years? Again, he'll be an excellent squad player. You need to keep Ally Hogg fresh because he's looking increasingly important to you.

Yeah been reading about McKenzie...and more and more he looks like the type of player we really need.

McCleod has been simply outstanding this season...Player of the Season. He's surprised me as he's actually very slight of build...but by heck he puts himself about.
And yes Ally has been huge again this season...leader and great player. We need to keep these older experienced players, and mix them with the youngsters listed above...

Id also like to mention Olly Tomaschyk who has been class this season...socks down, lumbering waddle...but he's been a rock at TH most of the season....

There you go lads. That wasn't so bad was it? Great season's performance with just enough of a wobble at the end to get the heart racing. Good luck next season. Hope the summer signings are the ones you need. It's hard to see who's going to be battling for survival next season in the AP, just make sure you're not one of them. Well done!

Not bad? It was horrendous!

Thanks though.


Signings for next season so far:

Noah Cato
Kieran Brookes
Adam Powell
Mike Blair
Rory Clegg
Andy Saull
Scott Lawson
Phil Godman
Fraser McKenzie

Players Leaving:

Jimmy Gopperth
James Hudson
Taiasina Tui'fua
Michael Mayhew
Luke Fielden
Jon Golding

The worrying thing for me Cumbrian...is that only blair and McKensie fill me with any confidence...the others...ill hold my judgement.

Whilst im not extactic about Andy Saul either, too many people have said its a crackin signing so ill keep my fingers crossed.

What did you think of the game. hats off to Bedford they had us under the kosh at times...but we came through, Mark Wilson again showed why he is a potential Saxon for me....and at times our scrum was excellent.

It was a good game to watch pal, the rolling maul and scrums have really done us credit and we should that we can attack with the ball in hand!

It might just be the hair making him more visible, but I though McLeod had a good game, seemed to be everywhere. If we can get him playing like that for 50-60 minutes a game in the Premiership I will be pleased.

It seems to me that Powell is growing into the side and looked a threat when he was attacking the line (I reckon he is going to be an important player next year).

I've never been much of a Saull fan but I'm starting to think he'll be a good signing.

He's got a great chase game and is good on the deck. With him and Hogg in the backrow we should be pretty strong in that area.

I've been a little disappointed with Powell, his distribution is poor and he seems to have one trick of fading then running straight which has worked about twice in the whole time he's been with us.

We need a good centre and back 3 player for sure. LH, backrow need looking at also.

I wonder if we've got anybody lined up?

Yeah i think we'll be seeing some players coming in...

Kibirige should be promoted...but will be eased in very gently.
How about using Russells connection and bringing Zac Guilford over here to get away from his troubles...now he's a winger.

I'd like to see a top class 10. Im actually glad Jimmy has moved on...has his moments, but he's not creative enough imo, and too easly resorts to the boot.

Centres, i agree an addition would be nice and a back up for Shiels at LH, and we'll probably see academy LH Jeff Hallam getting a few minutes next season...consistantly excellent reviews for the development team alongside Scott Wilson.

Whats happened to BIg Joe Cumbrian...you reckon he'll be unleashed on the Prem...

He's been knocking round the A league as a second rower as far as I can tell, it might be worth him going out on loan to a Championship club to get some game time and experience. Not sure he'll get that much game time other than in the A league/ LV Cup next season though.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah i think we'll be seeing some players coming in...

Kibirige should be promoted...but will be eased in very gently.
How about using Russells connection and bringing Zac Guilford over here to get away from his troubles...now he's a winger.

I'd like to see a top class 10.

I wouldn't look too hard at Phil "Good" God'man then...

Only kidding. He'll be fine as a back up to someone who's, you know, good at rugby.

Phil "OMG"odman
Clegg
Hodgson

Hardly inspiring...but Joel is the one with promise...i hope he makes the level and doesnt become another George Ford, built up too much.

Its not looking like Joe Robinson is going to have the same impact as his fellow cumbrian Mark Wilson has.

I have to say that I'm so happy that the Geordies are back in the Jeff.

Only fly in the ointment is that the PRL/RFU will now sit on their hands until the next debacle comes around.

As it inevitably will...

Cheers GT, great to be back...just need to make sure we stay there...

Paul Varley did say last night on Look North that they are still intending to recruit, so let's see who else comes in.

Oh i think they need to Trail...there are certain positions we simply must be stronger...and a few where we need suitable back up...

Ollie Steadmans contract has not been renewed...

greytiger wrote:I have to say that I'm so happy that the Geordies are back in the Jeff.

Only fly in the ointment is that the PRL/RFU will now sit on their hands until the next debacle comes around.

As it inevitably will...

The negotiations between the RFU and PRL for the new deal (current on runs out in 2015) will inlcude Championship representatives. Hopefully we'll get closer to a system that's right for both tiers.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ollie Steadmans contract has not been renewed...

He's looked ok but we do need better to compete in the AP, a good abrasive 6 would pretty much complete our backrow.

6. Wilson/?
7. Welch/Saull
8. Hogg/York