The fight-back is well and truly on as Newcastle Falcons narrowed the gap at the foot of the table with a hard-fought 19-10 victory over London Irish in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday.
And with London Wasps edged out 15-12 at home to Exeter Chiefs, you would not bet against Gary Gold’s rejuvenated outfit from pulling off the great escape.
Wasps’ solitary losing bonus point means the gap is now down to six points with seven crucial Premiership games left of the campaign. It is certainly squeaky bum time.
It was a performance befitting of a team who were proud to wear the Falcons jersey in front of just under 6,000 supporters.
Falcons’ talisman Jimmy Gopperth underlined why the Kingston Park bosses were eager for his services for another three years by booting 14 of the 19 points.
Gopperth was instrumental but the turning point came on 67 minutes when Ryan Shortland intercepted Delon Armitage’s pass to run half the length of the field and touchdown.
Scenes of jubilation followed and despite having to weather a late Irish onslaught, Newcastle sealed the triumph with a Gopperth penalty three minutes from time.
Gopperth and Tom Homer exchanged penalties in the early stages of the game before the northeasterners’ defensive line was tested.
Keeping their discipline at the back, the Falcons’ sliding defence was a real feature of their game with each player stepping up to the plate.
However, the Londoners’ sustained pressure paid off as winger Sailosi Tagicakibau crossed the whitewash on the half-hour mark.
Armitage’s attempted kick down field was partially charged down by a Falcons defender and the loose ball was hacked on by Matt Garvey with Tagicakibau giving chase to score.
Homer made no mistake with the extras to give his side a 10-3 lead.
Not deterred by the set-back, Newcastle powered their way up-field to give themselves an excellent attacking opportunity.
Five metres from the line, the ball was kept in the forwards with Rob Vickers, Euan Murray and Adriaan Fondse hitting the ball up.
Gopperth ensured his side came away from the Irish 22 with points by smashing home a drop-goal to go into the break just 10-6 behind.
Newcastle came out for the second period all guns blazing, keen to get on the scoreboard early. And they got their reward with a Gopperth penalty on 47 minutes after an infringement at the breakdown.
Irish had the chance to restore their four point advantage but Homer uncharacteristically missed his penalty from in front of the posts.
On 62 minutes the Falcons task was made difficult when Adriaan Fondse was given a straight red card for a suspected punch on Armitage.
And moments later tensions were running high when second-half replacement Jonny Golding locked horns with Richard Thorpe in a bust-up.
The two were sent to the bin but Irish failed to capitalise on the extra man, as Kiwi Shortland raced in under the posts to send the Kingston Park faithful into hysteria.
Gopperth’s conversion coupled with a late penalty nailed on a welcome win for Gold’s unit.
The Falcons continue their Premiership survival bid with a trip to Leicester Tigers next Saturday before entertaining Harlequins at home on Friday 2 March (kick-off 7.45pm).
Tickets are available for the Quins game by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
Newcastle: Goosen; Bedford, Helleur, Fitzpatrick, Shortland; Gopperth, Pilgrim; Shiells, Vickers, Murray; Fondse, Swinson, Hogg, Welch, Wilson.
Replacements: M. Mayhew, Golding, Wells, van der Heijden, Tu'ifua, Chudley, Hodgson, Sheriffe.
London Irish: D. Armitage; Homer, Joseph, Spratt, Tagicakibau; Bowden, Hodgson; Lahiff, Paice, Rautenbach; Kennedy, Evans, Garvey, Roche, Thorpe.
Replacements: Buckland, Dermody, Ion, Casey, Siggery, Yarde, Jarvis, Samson.
Referee: John Paul Doyle (RFU)
