A flawless kicking display from England fly half Johnny Wilkinson denied Leeds
the opportunity to haul themselves off the foot of the Zurich Premiership
table.
The Newcastle marksman booted 14 points, with Stuart Grimes touching down for
a try in a bruising Headingley encounter, but defeat was harsh on the Tykes
given their spirited display.
They created several openings, with the Falcons on defensive duty for most of
the first half, but failed to capitalise on them.
Former Springbok Japie Mulder, signed from South African provincial side
Gauteng Lions earlier in the week, made a promising start to his Leeds career.
The powerful centre made his presence felt as early as the second minute with
a barnstorming charge up the middle which flattened his equally burly opposite
number Inga Tuigamala for several minutes.
But he could not inspire his side to victory as the Falcons tightened the
screw in the second half, clinching their third victory over Tykes this season.
Leeds dominated the opening exchanges but, despite some searing runs from
Mulder, could not force their way through the Falcons watertight defence.
Wilkinson and Braam van Straaten exchanged penalties before the England ace
nudged Newcastle ahead with another three pointer - a lead his side scarcely
deserved given the Tykes' early superiority.
Leeds' determination to maintain their fledgling top flight status was evident
in each exchange - they scrapped for every ball and often sent the visitors
crashing backwards with the force of their tackling.
Van Straaten stroked over a 25th minute penalty only for Wilkinson to restore
the Falcons' three point advantage shortly after.
Leeds squandered a great chance to touch down when winger Craig Emmerson
kicked on a loose ball which Dan Scarborough raced after.
Newcastle's Dave Richardson gathered up the ball but Scarborough turned him
and the Tykes had possession inches short of the line. But with acres of space
out wide and men spare, the ball was knocked on and the chance gone.
Wilkinson and van Straaten again swopped penalties but it was still all Leeds,
whose efforts were now being hindered by sloppy handling.
Home hooker Rob Rawlinson and Falcons prop Micky Ward were despatched to the
sin-bin shortly before the interval, which Newcastle entered 12-9 ahead, for
fighting as tempers began to boil over.
Some robust forward play six minutes after the break allowed Scotland second
row Grimes in for a try which Wilkinson improved as the Falcons started to
impose themselves for the first time in the match.
But neither side were able to score again, with the soggy and windy conditions
taking their toll on a dull second half.
Teams:
Leeds: Scarborough, Hall, Davies, Mulder, Emmerson,
van Straaten, Benton, Shelley, Rawlinson, Kerr, C. Murphy,
Palmer, Hogg, Hyde, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Benson for Davies (64), Woof for C. Murphy (64), Fullman for Hyde (45).
Not Used: Holt, P. Murphy, Ponton, O'Reilly.
Sin Bin: Rawlinson (40), Holt (44).
Pens: van Straaten 3.
Newcastle: D. Richardson,
Botham, May, Tuigamala, MacLure,
Wilkinson, Charlton, Ward, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan, Weir,
Taione, Arnold, Lam.
Replacements: Noon for MacLure (46), Armstrong for Charlton (53), Graham for Ward (61), Grimes for Weir (41), Dunbar for Arnold (61).
Not Used: Thompson, Mower.
Sin Bin: Tuigamala (39), Ward (40).
Tries: Grimes. Cons: Wilkinson. Pens: Wilkinson 4.
Att: 4,195
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook