Newcastle Falcons fan Kristian Ross bravely gives his account of the British & Irish Cup final…
Leinster Rugby’s A side completed a wonderful night for the club and the province after an epic extra time win in the British and Irish Cup over Newcastle Falcons on Friday night. Leinster went to Kingston Park knowing the Falcons would be a tough nut to crack; the team from the North East had not lost in the competition all season.
It was the Falcons who started well, an early penalty saw Joel Hodgson put Newcastle ahead 3-0. The Falcons pressed on and good solid attacking finally paid off when Rory Lawson went over the line, and when Hodgson converted and made it 10-0, the faithful around Kingston Park started to dream.
Leinster’s young out half Noel Reid missed his first shot at the posts, but Leinster started to come into their own, and things looked brighter for the boys in blue when Ollie Stedman was binned for Dean Richards’s side, as the Falcons were reduced to fourteen men.
And when Brendan Macken scored an impressive try for the Irish province, Leinster knew they were right back into it, Noel Reid adding the conversion as the Falcons lead was reduced to just three.
Joel Hodgson had the prime opportunity the send the Falcons 13-7 ahead just before half time, but subsequently missed his penalty and it remained at 10-7 going into the interval.
A tense scrappy second half followed with both teams vying for field position, and it was Leinster who looked the more likely. Another two misses via the boot from Hodgson mean Leinster still had a chance, and some great last ditch tackles from a nervy Falcons defence kept them from winning late on. But indiscipline would be the factor, and a penalty award to the team from Dublin saw Noel Reid level the score late on before an audacious 60+ yard penalty to try and win it failed.
Leinster had finally taken their golden chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and as the match entered extra time the Falcons were dealt two crushing blows, first the binning of Taiasina Tu’ifua and then a fantastic try following a great run by full back Fionn Carr who put Leinster ahead 15-10 as Noel Reid failed to convert.
Welsh referee Neil Hennessy brought the curtain down on the first period of extra time with the Falcons dramatically needing a try in the second period. An as the home side were roared on following some great attacking play, it looked like it was going to be a fairytale ending when James Fitzpatrick offloaded to Zach Kibirige and he splashed down for what looked to be the game changing try. The ground fell silent as Joel Hodgson converted and the Falcons looked to have stolen it.
But it was in fact the Leinster team who were out to steal victory from the jaws of defeat, but when a mix up in the Falcons defence saw Leinster get good field position and win a scrum, the driving mass of the Leinster forwards saw a penalty won right at the end for the Irish club, and Noel Reid converted, the vital score, making it a double trophy win on the night for Leinster Rugby as the senior side won in Dublin.
A disappointing night for the Falcons, who had worked incredibly hard over the season to reach the final, and with the RFU Championship playoff final first leg against Bedford getting closer, the Falcons will look to make sure that complacency doesn’t creep in. In the end though a fantastic win for the Leinster side who did look the better in the latter stages. Some impressive players such as Brendan Macken and Cathal Marsh standing out. The Falcons know now that promotion is the main item on the agenda, but as for Leinster it was another night of success and another trophy.
Final score : Newcastle Falcons 17-18 Leinster Rugby
I'm Kristian. 18. And my mind is filled with rugby shaped thoughts. Supporting Ulster Rugby, Newcastle Falcons and of course the mighty Ireland. Tommy Bowe is the MAN !!!! SUFTUM.
Kristian will be back later in the week wearing his Ulster hat looking ahead to the RaboPRO12 final.
