Newcastle Falcons ended their Vicarage Road jinx when they came from behind to
notch up a deserved 24-19 win at Saracens.
Rob Andrew's men had not won at the Watford-based club since Saracens moved to
Vicarage Road in 1998, but Sunday was a different story.
South African fly-half Luke Smith kept the home side in contention through his
consistent kicking in the first half, but Newcastle touched down twice after the
break to put the game beyond Saracens despite a late rally.
Saracens had started well with two penalties from Smith's trusty boot, but the
tables soon turned.
Just after the half-hour Newcastle centre Tom May touched down for the first
try of the afternoon, which was converted by Jonny Wilkinson.
May was set up by scrum-half Hall Charlton, who fed the 22-year-old as he
charged through Saracens' Kyran Bracken and Adryan Winnan.
Saracens bounced back with another penalty from Smith to lead 9-7 at the
interval and went further ahead five minutes into the second period when the
South African kicked his fourth penalty of the afternoon.
However, Newcastle continued to work hard and their efforts were rewarded when
Michael Stephenson collected a clever pass from Dave Walder, chipped ahead and
successfully chased down to score on the left wing.
Wilkinson again converted to put Newcastle 12-14 ahead.
Prop George Graham added a third try for the visitors after forward Hugh
Vyvyan won a lineout and the pack muscled their way over Saracens' goalline.
Wilkinson again converted before full-back Walder added a drop goal to put the
visitors well in command.
But to their credit Saracens battled back and deservedly reduced the deficit
to just five points after 60 minutes when Ben Johnston touched down and Smith
picked up the extra two points.
And Francois Pienaar's men kept coming well into injury time to rattle
Newcastle, but the visitors held their nerve to take victory with some solid
defending.
Teams:
Saracens: Winnan, Sparg, Johnston,
Sorrell, O'Mahony, Smith,
Bracken, Harbut, Cairns, Phillips, K. Benazzi, Murray, Hill,
Roche, Cole, A. Benazzi.
Replacements: Cairns for Smith (67), Walshe for Bracken (35),
Phillips for Harbut (67), Russell for Cairns (55),
Flatman for Phillips (55), A. Benazzi for K. Benazzi (40),
A. Benazzi for Murray (22), Murray for A. Benazzi (27).
Not Used: Cheesebrough, De Beer, Arasa.
Tries: Johnston.
Cons: Smith.
Pens: Smith 4.
Newcastle: Walder, Stephenson, Noon, May, Botham, Wilkinson,
Charlton, Ward, Makin, Graham, Vyvyan, Grimes, Taione, Mower,
Lam.
Replacements: MacLure for Botham (59), Balshen for Ward (63),
Peel for Makin (64), Weir for Vyvyan (70),
Arnold for Mower (55).
Not Used: Armstrong, Hurter.
Tries: May, Stephenson, Graham.
Cons: Wilkinson 3.
Drop Goals: Walder.
Att: 7,294
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook