Challenge Cup Flashback – Falcons 39 – 0 Connacht
After a narrow loss in Galway in round three of the European Challenge Cup, Newcastle Falcons seized back the initiative with a superb 39-0 win over Connacht Rugby, to go joint top of table with Brive Corezze.
In the first home appearance for new signing Carl Hayman, Newcastle rode out a tentative first half before launching a second half blitz to set up an mouthwatering final block of fixtures in January.
Fielding a strong team in front of their biggest ever European Challenge Cup crowd of 7,426, Jonny Wilkinson opened the scoring with a 45-metre penalty before slotting home another shortly afterwards.
Determined defence from Michael Bradley’s side thwarted John Fletcher’s sides attempts to build on that early 6-0 lead, but the home side were making the vast majority of the running and eventually made their pressure pay with a try in stoppage time, with Tim Visser scoring with the last phase of the half.
Returning from the break, the Falcons opened the floodgates; Mathew Tait getting the scoreboard moving, with a well taken try five minutes into the second half, when he dived over the line after a hard-driven line out.
Toby Flood added his own name to the score sheet after grounding his own chased kick, with Wilkinson converting both tries while Connacht lost a man to the sin bin five minutes from time in their drive to get back in the game.
In need of another score to take the full five points from the tie, it was duly secured through winger Ollie Phillips, who took full advantage of good build up play from Andy Long and Jamie Noon. The hooker snapped up a loose ball that he funneled it out to the England centre, whose inside pass opened the way for Phillips.
Adding some final gloss, the imperious Wilkinson, who had delivered a stand out display throughout the game, got himself a tray with a neat chip ahead and typically brave dive for the fifth try in the 87th minute.
