Newcastle Falcons v Tonga

Should be a great atmosphere on Tuesday night...Epi Taione returns to his old club as Chairman.
Our Lineup:
1 Grant Shiells
2 Matt Thompson
3 James Hall
4 Sean Tomes
5 James Goode
6 Scott MacLeod
7 Mark Wilson
8 Chris York

9 Warren Fury
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Ryan Shortland
12 James Fitzpatrick
13 Alex Crockett
14 Andrew Higgins
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 Mike Mayhew, 17 Scott Wilson, 18 James Hallam, 19 Joe Robinson, 20 Jordi Pasqualin, 21 Waisea Luveniyali, 22 Jamie Helleur, 23 Ally Hogg

Interesting lineup...obviously more of a development side not risking all the first XV's however i like the look of that back row...physical uncompromising with York and Wilson yet Macleod offer another dimension with his athleticism and lineout. Tomes and Fitzy also add some sheer power in that team...

I will also watch with interest if both Scot Wilson (tight head) and James Hallam (loose head) come on...they are young and fantastic potential props....who have been in very impressive form in the A league and development games.

And lets not forget big Joe....id love to see the back row finish as Big Joe, Mark Wilson and Chris York...that would be one young, physical, aggresive back row....

10 Joel Hodgson

Bloody Hell, what did he do to deserve that?

Ha ha ha ha...yeah could be a long day for the young lad...but at the same time hes got Fitzy outside him and Mark Wilson and Chris York around him...who are all big powerful guys...so he should be fine...

Chris York

Good luck Falcons, give us some score updates guys!

From the ruck Chris Yorke is driven over for the try convreted by Hodgson for Falcons 7 - 5 Tonga on 28 minutes

Falcons doing ok actually. Giving away possession at times...bit our scrum has been good and our defence isn't bad.

Tonga have been physical...and a man currently in the bin.

Good stuff...

Scott Macleod got the try LT...or that's what the announcer said.

I just pinched the quote from the twitter feed

Looking good for Falcons 21-8 up with 15mins to go

FT - 24-13, good win for Falcons

Our scrum was awesome in the second half....a serious weapon now. Tongahuia got.his a$$ handed to him by hall tonight. Second penalty try in two games from the scrum.

Was there a decent crowd in?

Just under 4000 mate. Not.bad.

Joel was good
Mark Wilson excellent.
Fitzy just revelled in the physical battles...made ground every carry

We scored fantastic length of the field try...was a pleasure to watch.

And we got one rolling maul going which was great aswell.

Sean tomes is giving a selection headache aswell he was a sheer physical presence in there....Del Fava might not walk straight back in