Luke Fielden’s losing bonus point try keeps Falcons Aviva hopes alive for now
Newcastle Falcons future in the Aviva Premiership will be decided by the end of this week as there relegation worries continue. Falcons have lost their last match in Kingston Park, Newcastle on Saturday April 30, 2011. However, they were able to secure a
point from the game courtesy of their winger Luke Fielden’s try. Newcastle Falcons will play their second consecutive match against Bath Rugby at Recreation Ground, Bath on Saturday, May 7.
At the end of last week, Falcons were placed at 11th position with 23 points and only a point ahead of Leeds Carnegie in the Aviva Premiership 2010/11 table. Both teams so far have played 21 games each in the season and both have won four games
in the season.
Newcastle Falcons were expected to put up a better show in their last week match against Bath but they failed to do so. Bath were never an easy team to beat and Falcons have done good enough to win a losing bonus points particularly keeping in view the fact
that Bath were playing the match for their spot in the play-offs.
Falcons lost their way during the second-half but the 74th minute try by their Winger, Luke Fielden, brought them back into the game and gave them a chance to draw or win the game. Bath dominated the game as they enjoyed more ball possession
throughout the match. Falcons on the other hand were forced to play a defencive game for the length of the match.
Falcons were first to score in the game as their fly half Jimmy Gopperth scored on a penalty during the 22nd minute of the game. Minutes later Bath replied with their captain and scrum half Michael Claassens crossing over the Falcons try line
to score the first of the two tries scored in the match.
Gopperth’s 33rd minute penalty again put hosts in lead. Few minutes before the end of the first half, Bath’s fly half Butch James penalty take the scorecard reading 6 – 8 in favour of Bath.
Bath extended their lead during the second-half courtesy of their centre Sam Vesty’s 51st minute and James 72nd minute penalty as Bath enjoyed more ball possession. James second penalty of the match left Falcons trailing by eight points and were
all set to lose any point from the match.
However, Fielden bonus point 74th minute try helped the host to peek their nose in front of the Leeds Carnegie in the points table.
The weekend’s game will determine the future of the Falcons in the Premiership and as for now, they are facing a possible Aviva relegation.
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