 | MATCH SUMMARY Newcastle (6) 21
Tries: Elliot, Shaw
Cons: Walder
Pens: Walder (2)
Drop: Walder Saracens (3) 16
Try: Powell
Con: Powell
Pens: Powell (3) |
Newcastle leap-frogged Saracens in the Premiership table with a scrappy win at Kingston Park. A Glen Jackson penalty gave Sarries the lead but two penaltes from Dave Walder made it 6-3 to the hosts at the break.
Falcons wing Anthony Elliott crossed for a try on 57 minutes before Walder dropped a goal to make it 14-6.
A try from Adam Powell and a Jackson conversion closed the gap to one point, but Joe Shaw crossed late on to make the game safe for the hosts.
Despite Jackson's early goal, it was Newcastle who played all the rugby in a dour first half.
Walder had earlier missed with a long drop goal and then hit the post with another penalty before eventually making it 6-3.
Jackson levelled the scores with a 55th-minute penalty before centre Matthew Tait broke from his own half and slipped the ball to Elliott to score.
Walder was then successful with a drop to make it 14-6, but Newcastle then took their eye off the ball at a drive in their own 22 and Powell shot away to score.
Jackson's conversion made it 14-13 with just 12 minutes left, but Newcastle responded well, Tait feeding Shaw who stepped through to score.
Walder's conversion made it 21-13 and Jackson's late penalty was nothing but a consolation.
Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew
They came to spoil, which is the only way I can describe it, and were aided and abetted by the referee. We dominated the game and were by far the better side. The game was a mess, but we won it and I would have been very unhappy if we'd lost.
They caused us problems in the line-out, but I thought they were offside all day at the breakdown.
Saracens director of rugby Steve Diamond:
"That try from the line-out was the turning point of the match and it was a crucial decision by the referee and his touch judge, but we will keep any complaints about the referee in house.
"We have a few players missing and it showed. We're getting the possession but not turning it into points."
Newcastle: Walder; May, Tait, Noon, Elliot; Flood, Grindal; Ward, Long, Morris; Perry, Grimes; Finegan, Woods, Charvis.
Replacements: Shaw for Flood (21), Charlton for Grindal (73), Thompson for Long (54), Wilson for Morris (41), Gross for Perry (68), Parling for Finegan (41).
Not Used: Buist.
Saracens: Bartholomeusz; Johnston, Sorrell, Harris, Vaikona; Jackson, Rauluni; Lloyd, Cairns, Mitchel; Raiwalui, Vyvyan; B. Russell, Seymour, Skirving.
Replacements: Scarbrough for Bartholomeusz (61), Powell for Harris (53), Dickens for Rauluni (41), Broster for Mitchell (35), Chesney for Raiwalui (44), Ryder for B. Russell (61).
Not Used: Kyriacou.
Att: 6,405
Ref: Roy Maybank (Kent).
MMIX
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