Gary Gold took charge of his first training session yesterday as the Falcons gear up for this Sunday’s LV= Cup clash with Sale Sharks at Kingston Park (kick-off 3.30pm).
Gold, who was appointed as the club’s new director of rugby less than two weeks ago put his troops through their paces alongside coaches Mike Ford and Paul Moriarty.
Former England defence coach of five years, Ford, flew out with Gold and the rest of the team for last weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup date at Lyon.
The duo watched on from the stands as they saw their side lose out against the French Top 14 outfit 21-13 by virtue of conceding two late tries.
Moriarty was in interim charge for the northeasterners’ final European game of the campaign while Gold and Ford find their feet at the Tyneside club.
The Welshman was pleased with what he saw from his patched up side, saying: “For an hour we were very competitive, despite giving away a simple try to let them take the early lead.
“We showed great character to come straight back from that score and score an excellent try ourselves.”
Newcastle fielded a 23-man squad which contained six front-rowers on the bench coupled with Jimmy Gopperth at full-back and Jordi Pasqualin on the wing due to the mounting injury problems as well as players not being registered for the competition.
Moriarty added: “There were a lot of pleasing aspects, but we are obviously disappointed not to have won. At half-time being in a 10-7 lead we felt really good about it, and we were doing exactly what we had spoken about all week in terms of playing a tactical game and picking off territory.
“We upped our intensity when we entered the strike zone, and it continued in the start of the second-half when we got great position and kicked a penalty for 13-7.
“Once we did go behind in the second-half we tried to force things a little. We began playing in an area where we did not really need to, we ended up getting turned over and they put us under pressure.
“Overall it was fairly pleasing, though, despite the score-line. We seem to have come away with no new injuries, touch wood, and at the moment that is one of the most important things with the number of guys we have missing. It was always a major consideration.
“We now go into a fortnight of LV= Cup action, as much as winning games is important, we want to work closely with the medical staff and make sure the boys are right for the league games coming up.”
Gold will take charge of his first official game this weekend against Sale with tickets still available by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
