Jonny Wilkinson produced a trade-mark injury-time drop goal to level the
scores and extinguish Saracens hopes of their first away win in the Zurich
Premiership since May.
Wilkinson had had a mixed game up to that point, with the Saracens pack in
complete control he had been starved on any quality possession.
But the England captain showed his class when he popped up in injury time to
slot the 30-metre effort after Mark Bartholomeusz had looked to have won it for
the visitors.
The first half started at a ferocious pace, with both sides eager to move the
ball out of the contact.
Saracens opened the scoring after four minutes when Newcastle coughed up
possession 30 metres out from their own line.
The ball was worked left to Thomas Castaignede who timed his run perfectly. He
cut inside, wrong-footing his opposite man Dave Walder, and slid in under the
posts. The Frenchman also converted.
Falcons hit back immediately when Epi Taione made a thunderous break through
the middle.
He slipped short of Castaignede and his head smashed straight into the
full-back's knee.
Inevitably Castaignede came off worse and he was helped off the pitch four
minutes later.
However, Taione's break had created space out wide for the Falcons, and
Matthew Tait exploited it with a clever kick ahead which he then gathered and
touched down in the right corner. Wilkinson converted from wide out.
Sadly that was the end of the quality rugby for the rest off the half. The
only other points coming from Castaignede's replacement Robbie Kydd who slotted
a 40-metre penalty.
Sarries spurned chance after chance, but despite there glut of possession were
unable to put in the killer pass.
Saracens were even unable to make the most of a one man advantage after Taione
was sin-binned on 35 minutes for persistent infringements.
The home side would have been delighted to turn round just three points behind
at 10-7 but Wilkinson levelled the scores just after half-time with a penalty.
The pattern of the first half resumed with Saracens applying the pressure but
failing to put points on the board, despite having further numerical advantage
after Mike McCarthy was sin-binned for aiming a slap at Ben Broster.
Newcastle scored a breakaway on 53 minutes when they stole the ball five
metres short of their own line and Tait kicked ahead.
Referee Tony Spreadbury allowed play to continue despite a blatant early
tackle by Tait and Michael Stephenson out-paced the defence to gather his own
kick and score. Wilkinson again converted.
Sarries hit back with a well worked try for Matt Cairns. Kydd's conversion
levelled the scores at 17-17 after 56 minutes.
Falcons came close on 66 minutes but Tait was unable to ground the after a
flowing Falcons back move.
Saracens looked to have made Newcastle pay when Bartholomeusz calmly slotted
the 30- metre drop-goal with time almost up.
But Wilkinson was not to be outdone and he replied with the last kick off the
game to level matters at 20-20.
Teams:
Newcastle: Walder, Tait, Burke, Taione, Stephenson,
J. Wilkinson, Charlton, Isaacson, Long, Ward, Gross, Grimes,
McCarthy, Williamson, Charvis.
Replacements: May for Walder (67), Grindal for Charlton (63),
Peel for Isaacson (53), Hurter for Ward (53),
Hamilton for Gross (56), Sititi for McCarthy (56).
Not Used: Phillips.
Tries: Tait, Stephenson.
Cons: J. Wilkinson 2.
Pens: J. Wilkinson.
Drop Goals: J. Wilkinson.
Sin Bin: Taione (35), McCarthy (47).
Saracens: Castaignede, Haughton, Johnston, Harris, Bailey,
Bartholomeusz, Raulini, Yates, Cairns, Broster, Chesney,
Raiwalui, Randell, Seymour, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Kydd for Castaignede (11),
Sorrell for Haughton (40), Lloyd for Yates (57),
Skirving for Chesney (69).
Not Used: Kyriacou, B. Russell, Bedford.
Tries: Castaignede, Cairns.
Cons: Castaignede, Kydd.
Pens: Kydd.
Drop Goals: Bartholomeusz.
Att: 7,762
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).
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