Bates happy to put problems to one side

9:12am Monday 5th May 2008

Newcastle Falcons 28 Leicester Tigers 25

NEWCASTLE'S acting director of rugby Steve Bates declared himself very, very proud'' of his Guinness Premiership team after they ended a poor run.

A depressing run of seven straight defeats in the league, plus a crushing defeat in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup, finished with yesterday's 28-25 success over Leicester.

That it arrived a day after it was announced that Mathew Bates and Toby Flood were leaving Kingston Park, victory brought some much-needed relief.

And Bates said: I'm very, very proud of the team.

We saw evidence today of the type of rugby we have been trying to play for some time, it was a big win for us.'' Newcastle put their recent woes behind them with the perfect start of a penalty and an Andy Long try in just four minutes, with Jonny Wilkinson's boot stretching the lead to 10-0.

Thereafter, however, it was hammer-and-tong and end-toend, right to the finish when Leicester could have snatched victory.

By half-time Jordan Crane had gone over from a lineout in typical Leicester style and then Tom Varndell made it 13-12 with a try near the flag - but it was a Newcastle blitz that brought up the interval.

Two of their forwards had been held up on the line before the Leicester pack twice went on the retreat at five-metre scrums, and their defence was nowhere to be seen when Falcons skipper Phil Dowson strolled in.

Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda agreed that his side had underperformed in the opening period.

But he added: They knew they had to play with more urgency and came back strongly in the last quarter.'' With 15 minutes remaining Leicester had been 13 points adrift but found instant success when Sam Vestey came on as replacement for the injured Andy Goode.

The fly-half put over a penalty and then converted the score he had created for Varndell's second, and in the dying seconds a decision was taken not to kick a penalty which could have squared the game.

This defeat for Leicester now gives them little hope of achieving a top four finish but Loffreda remains optimistic.

He continued: Mathematically we still have a chance - but realistically our main aim now is to qualify for Europe again next season.'' Despite Newcastle being in disarray off the field at the moment, Bates was also upbeat about the future.

He added: I'm comfortable with the way we are playing.

I am confident we are going in the right direction.'' Newcastle were quickly into their stride from the kick-off, turning over Leicester ball in their 22 and kicking a firstminute penalty through Wilkinson when the visitors infringed.

Leicester were then pushed back from the restart and after a barnstorming run by John Rudd down the left, Falcons lock Andy Perry was held up on the line.

From the second phase however hooker Andy Long dived over for the try to which Wilkinson added the points to make it 10-0.

This time Leicester were quick to respond and, when Andy Goode struck a penalty to the corner, No 8 Jordan Crane was driven over from the line-out, with Goode converting from wide out.

Wilkinson kept the Newcastle scoreboard ticking over with a 15th-minute penalty following a ruck offence but his opposite number Goode was well wide with a similar effort soon after.

A dangerous tackle by Marco Wentzel on Tom May saw the Leicester lock yellow-carded but this time Wilkinson was off target with his penalty attempt.

When Goode burst clear from halfway to feed Alesana Tuilagi a Leicester score seemed certain until Tait hauled him down just short. Leicester retained possession however and moved it quickly to the left where Tom Varndell crashed over.

With the interval approaching it was all Newcastle following a James Grindal break in midfield.

Ross Beattie and then Geoff Parling were held up on the line but finally, from a five-metre scrum, Leicester were pushed back and Falcons No 8 Parling went through for the try, converted by Wilkinson to make it 20-12 at halftime.

Goode was off target with a simple penalty attempt just after the restart but made no mistake when Newcastle infringed again right in front of their posts.

In the 53rd minute Newcastle ran in a third try from another superb break by Grindal. The flyhalf beat two defenders at speed before releasing May who stormed in from 30 metres to give the Falcons a 10-points advantage.

Another Wilkinson penalty stretched that lead a little further but when Grindal was yellowcarded for preventing release, Sam Vesty the replacement Leicester fly-half pulled back the three points.

Vesty continued to be prominent and it was his next break from a scrum in the home 22 that produced a second try for Varndell under the posts, and Vesty then reduced the Leicester deficit to just three points with the conversion.

With time running out for Leicester they elected not to kick a penalty that could have squared the game and failed to secure a try from some concerted pressure on the Newcastle line in the dying seconds.

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