Match Report: Newcastle Falcons 14 – 16 Northampton Saints

Curtis Langdon grabbed what proved to be a decisive try as Northampton Saints picked up their first win of the new Gallagher Premiership season against Newcastle Falcons.

In torrid conditions at Kingston Park, the first 40 minutes was littered with errors from both sides, and two Fin Smith penalties were cancelled out by Brett Connon to level the score at 6-6 at the interval.

But after the driving rain eased off in the second half, Langdon profited from a superb Tom Pearson offload to score, with Smith adding the conversion and another penalty from the tee. The hosts set up a grandstand finish with a try for Iwan Stephens, but after Connon missed the conversion it was Saints who hung on for the win as Tom James produced a key turnover with the clock in the red.

FIRST HALF

The first points of the game came just after ten minutes in, when Falcons fly-half Connon successfully kicked a penalty from wide out on the right-hand side to give Newcastle a three-point lead.

The heavens opened a quarter of an hour into the game and when Sam Stuart dropped a kick from George Furbank, Saints had a scrum on Falcons’ 22 which they won a penalty from, and Smith pointed to the posts. He converted, and levelled the scores at 3-3.

The game continued to ebb and flow with neither side able to gain a foothold, so when Connon was presented with another opportunity for three points after Saints were penalised at scrum time, he took it, and edged the home side back in front with half an hour of the game played.

But Smith levelled the scores for Saints on the brink of half-time, with Newcastle guilty of playing No.9 James to make the score 6-6 at the break.

SECOND HALF

Connon missed an opportunity for Newcastle to take the lead early in the second half, with his penalty attempt sailing wide.

From there, Saints found some territory and possession and were rewarded for their efforts on 55 minutes. Pearson broke through the defensive line inside the 22 and offloaded brilliantly to Langdon, who had enough power to score. Smith slotted the extras and Saints had some breathing room.

The home side hit back soon after; Falcons found themselves five metres out and when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, Connon slotted his third of the afternoon to close the gap to four points.

Smith extended the gap again with 17 minutes to play after Falcons were penalised at a ruck, and the fly-half slotted his third of the day from straight in front of the posts.

But Falcons didn’t lie down and with five minutes to play, Stephens scored their first try of the game in the corner. George Hendy was yellow carded for repeat infringements close to the line, and the home side took immediate advantage of the extra man. Connon hit the post with the conversion from out wide, and Saints had a two-point advantage to cling onto.

Newcastle, with the clock in the red, threw the kitchen sink at the men in Black, Green and Gold inside the 22, but James was able to get over the ball and earn Saints a crucial, match-winning penalty.

Smith kicked the ball out to secure a first Gallagher Premiership win of the season, with Bath Rugby the visitors to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens next weekend.

LINE-UPS

FALCONS: 15 Obatoyinbo, 14 Radwan, 13 Penny, 12 Jennings, 11 Stephens, 10, Connon, 9 Stuart; 1 Brocklebank, 2 Blamire, 3 Tampin, 4 Van Der Walt, 5 De Chaves, 6 Cross, 7 Pepper, 8 Chick (c)
Replacements: 16 Byrne, 17 Brantingham, 18 McCallum, 19 Hawkins, 20 McDonald, 21 O’Sullivan, 22 Lockwood, 23 Orlando

SAINTS: 15 Furbank (c), 14 Seabrook, 13 Dingwall, 12 Hutchinson, 11 Hendy, 10 F Smith, 9 James; 1 E Waller, 2 Langdon, 3 Davison, 4 Munga, 5 Coles, 6 Scott-Young, 7 Pearson, 8 Graham
Replacements: 16 Cruse, 17 A Waller, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Lockett, 20 Moon, 21 McParland, 22 Grayson, 23 Litchfield