London Welsh’s demise has allowed these clubs to escape the shadow of relegation this season but, on this evidence, it is Newcastle, 20 years after they became the first English club to turn professional, who face a struggle for survival next winter.
Dean Richards, Newcastle’s director of rugby, had a king-sized rant after the match at the decision by the referee, Greg Garner, to show yellow cards five minutes before the end to his lock Josh Furno and the London Irish flanker Jebb Sinclair. The two replacements had, in Clarkson-speak, a bit of a “fracas” just outside the Falcons’ 22.
Richards claimed his Italian international had been punched by the Canadian and that the dismissal was an “absolute disgrace”. But when the citing commissioner views the incident he may take a dim view of Furno’s tackle, when he upended Chris Noakes, which sparked the mayhem. Noakes recovered to kick the penalty that ultimately divided the sides. A last-minute try by Adam Powell was just too late.
To be fair to Richards, he was on more solid ground when he admitted his defence had been “grossly negligent” in the first half when his side conceded three tries and that the Falcons had butchered opportunities to turn the game after the break. Certainly, when the London Irish prop Halani Aulika scored the first of those tries in the second minute the Newcastle defence seemed to usher him over the line like a traffic cop waving on a speeding truck.
Richards’ dark mood contrasted with the optimism of Irish. Next Sunday evening they host Edinburgh in a European Challenge Cup quarter-final and they have recruited some heavy-duty players to ensure their Premiership future. Matt Symons, the Chiefs lock who was born in Harlow, could be the most significant import this summer.
Steve Hansen wanted the 25-year-old Symons to pledge his future to the All Blacks but the former Esher player, who met England’s forward coach, Graham Rowntree, in New Zealand last summer, is keen to pull on the white shirt. He will give the London Irish pack a hard edge along with the All Blacks prop Ben Franks, who will also join the club next season.
Irish, whose director of rugby, Brian Smith, left abruptly in January, were happy to scrape home after seeing two other players yellow-carded. They were on the back foot for much of the second half when a try by Sinoti Sinoti, Newcastle’s Samoan wing, was ruled out by the TMO, Stuart Terheege. “Newcastle are a real attacking threat and Sinoti is an unbelievable rugby player. We had to defend for our lives,” admitted Smith’s successor Glenn Delaney.
Scott Steele, the Irish scrum-half who scored another of their first-half tries, senses the club is on the up. “Next Sunday’s game will be huge for the club. I went to school with Edinburgh’s scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. We played nine and 10 together and are good mates but next week we’ll need to keep every player on the pitch. Our defence is good with 14 but it’s easier to have 15 players out there.”
London Irish Fenby; Lewington (Ojo, 61), Griffin, Sheridan, Fowlie; Geraghty (Noakes, 70), Steele (Allinson, 66); Court (Parr, 70), Paice (Stevens, 43), Aulika (Halavatau, 61), Skivington (capt), Rouse, Gilsenan (Sinclair, 62), Cowan, Guest (Narraway, 66). Tries Aulika, Steele, Fenby. Cons Geraghty 2. Pen Noakes.
Sin-bin Geraghty 22; Paice 33; Sinclair 75.
Newcastle Tait; Cato (Harris, 59), Tiesi (Socino, 52), Powell, Sinoti; Catterick, Tipuna (Davies, 66); Vickers (Rogers, 59), Lawson, Brookes (Orlandi, 51), Thompson (Saull, 70), Barrow (Furno, 59), Mayhew, Welch (capt), Wilson.
Tries Harris, Powell. Con Catterick. Pens Catterick 3.
Sin-bin Furno, 75.
Referee G Garner (London). Attendance 15,731.
