Falcons prodigy signs new deal

8:59am Friday 18th April 2008

ROB Miller, one of England's most talented young fly halves, has signed a one-year extension on his Newcastle Falcons contract.

With no guarantee of regular first team action while Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood are at the club, the 18-year-old Keswick School product has kept his longterm options open.

Miller took man-of-the-match honours in scoring a try on his Guinness Premiership debut against Bristol last month and also featured in the England Under-20s side which won the Grand Slam.

A student at Northumbria University, he is also Tynedale's top try-scorer with 11 and Newcastle's caretaker boss Steve Bates said: "Rob is an exceptional talent.

He has continued the tradition of fly halves coming through the Falcons academy."

Bates will wait until this afternoon to name his team for Sunday's game at Sale, revealing: "Premiership regulations state that for a Sunday game we have to name our side by 12 noon on the Friday, but I understand Sale have been given dispensation to delay their announcement due to injury concerns. We won't announce our side until they have."

With the England trio of Jamie Noon, Flood and Wilkinson among those nursing knocks, Bates added: "Jonny took a bang to the head last weekend. He seems fine in himself but we will obviously have to assess him.

"If any of them aren't absolutely 100 per cent right we will look to get them fully fit for the European semi-final at Worcester next Friday."

Former England and Newcastle lock Garath Archer has been at Kingston Park this week, and Bates said: "It is just nice to get a fresh pair of eyes to have a look at things from time to time.

"He is coaching down at Durham City, and given the current situation at the club he kindly offered to come and have a bit of a look at one or two things."

* England and British Lions legend Bill Beaumont will be at Tynedale with his club, Fylde, tomorrow and will present the hosts with their National Three North trophies.

After the most successful campaign in club's 132-year history Tynedale go into the game with a 29-point lead over their nearest rivals, Darlington Mowden Park.

Only Fylde can stop Mowden gaining the promotion play-off spot, but will find themselves up against a team with the meanest defensive record in all the national leagues.

Tynedale have not been beaten at home in a league match since September, 2006, and have again won the Northumberland Senior cup.

Club president Andrew Deacon said: "The success on the pitch this season is fantastic and we are hugely proud of all our players whether they turn out for the first XV or the under eights.

"Tynedale is a community club and prides itself on the role it plays in this part of Northumberland.

It is important that we celebrate that too."

Beaumont, vice-chairman of the International Rugby Board, will present club skipper Phil Belgian with both the RFU trophy and the National Clubs Association Trophy.

* Billingham will clinch the Durham and Northumberland division one title if they win their final game at home to mid-table Stockton tomorrow.

They select the same squad of 18 who topped 50 points at Sunderland last week; but skipper Dave Robinson warned: "I am under no illusion about what lies ahead and we certainly know the strengths of the Stockton pack.

"The players have worked hard for two years to propel the club into the higher division and I'm looking forward to this season's work coming to fruition. If we are successful it will be a proud day for everybody at the club."

Billingham are also in the final of the Durham Intermediate Cup on Wednesday, April 30, when they play Hartlepool Rovers at West Hartlepool's ground.

With the Stockton pack unchanged there is a return home for former Billingham player Sean Willis. In the threequarters they are likely to be without the Armstrong brothers as Tom injured a shoulder last week and Peter is due to be captaining Norton at cricket.

Ritchie Brown & Simon Crozier will move infield, allowing Paul Murphy and Andy Bare to return on the wings.

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