Newcastle's dynamic backs boosted the Falcons' hopes of automatic European
qualification, running in three tries as London Irish continued their recent run
of poor form.
Since winning the Powergen Cup with an awesome display against Northampton at
Twickenham, the Exiles have lost to Pontypridd in the Parker Pen European Shield
and Sale in the Zurich Premiership.
A win this evening would have guaranteed them a top four finish but victory
was beyond them despite Barry Everitt's faultless display with the boot yielding
20 points.
Chris Sheasby scored a second-half try for the visitors to win what would
could prove a vital bonus point come the final shake-up, but by then the win was
out of sight courtesy of two scores from Jamie Noon and a third spectacular
effort by Michael Stephenson.
Fly-halves Wilkinson and Everitt duelled for superiority with the boot all
night but it was the Newcastle man's play in the loose that set him apart.
Inga Tuigamala played inside him in his final game for Newcastle at Kingston
Park and he gained hard yards with powerful runs down the middle, providing a
platform for Noon, Wilkinson and full-back Dave Walder to work from.
The Samoan was given a rousing reception before kick off as he led out the
Newcastle side, but it was not a start befitting the party atmosphere as the
Falcons were careless, risking difficult passes in their own half as the Irish
defence stepped up quickly.
Wilkinson's kicking from hand was, for once, questionable and in an opening 15
minutes dogged by turnovers at the breakdown, it was Everitt who proved the
difference as Irish opened up a 6-0 lead before Newcastle had had any real
chance to show their wares.
But the Falcons then began to push forward, play more of the game inside the
Irish half and were rewarded after a flash of brilliance from Wilkinson.
The Falcons skipper broke the line with a trademark step on halfway, beat the
cover tackle and handed onto Jamie Noon who sprinted, arm raised, under the
posts, leaving Wilkinson a simple conversion.
The two fly-halves then exchanged penalties either side of Irish centre Rob
Hoadley being shown a yellow card for a cynical late challenge on Wilkinson, who
was flattened on half-way some time after the ball had left his boot.
The England man, unhurt, landed the penalty before Irish regained the lead
again with two further kicks from Everitt.
But while Everitt was metronomic with the boot, so Newcastle were devastating
on the break and the Falcons surged into a half-time lead with Wilkinson again
pulling the strings.
On half-way he appeared to be going nowhere, but took the tackle and slipped
the ball outside to Stephenson, and from there the England Sevens winger scored
a spectacular solo try.
Dave Walder was on his outside, Stephenson shaped to pass and sold a fantastic
dummy before stepping out of Michael Horak's flimsy tackle to win the race for
the line - the converted try giving Newcastle a narrow 17-15 advantage.
And as they had done against both Bath and Saracens in recent weeks, Newcastle
sought to streak ahead after the interval.
Irish were driven deep inside their own half by superb Newcastle support play,
the result of which saw Noon wriggle under the posts for his second try.
Wilkinson landed the conversion and a penalty soon after as Irish were pinned
back. But unlike their two previous wins, Newcastle could not maintain their
dominance and Irish number eight Chris Sheasby drove over, and with Everitt
landing his seventh kick, the deficit was down to five.
Wilkinson failed with a 45 metre penalty - the only kick missed all night - as
the game tightened up but booted a seventh to clinch the win for Falcons and cap
another fine personal display.
Teams:
Newcastle: Walder, Stephenson, Noon, Tuigamala, Botham,
Wilkinson, Charlton, Graham, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan,
Grimes, Dunbar, Dunbar, Devonshire, Arnold, Mower, Lam.
Replacements: Lam for Dunbar (59), Mower for Dunbar (77),
Lam for Arnold (69), Dunbar for Mower (78), Dunbar for Lam (67).
Not Used: Armstrong, D. Richardson, Makin, Boyd, Weir.
Tries: Noon 2, Stephenson.
Cons: Wilkinson 3.
Pens: Wilkinson 4.
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Bishop,
Everitt, Edwards, Hatley, Kirke, Halford, Strudwick,
Fahrensohn, Halvey, Pfister, Sheasby.
Replacements: Venter for Hoadley (59),
Wheatley for Hatley (53), Drotske for Kirke (47),
Hardwick for Halford (47).
Not Used: Martens, Cockle, Delaney.
Sin Bin: Hoadley (25).
Tries: Sheasby.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 7.
Att: 5,218
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).
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