Alex Codling praised his Newcastle Falcons battlers as they claimed a four-try bonus point in Friday’s Gallagher Premiership northern derby at Sale Sharks.

The Falcons fell 40-22 with Sale grabbing a pair of late tries, but Codling was full of positivity after a much-changed line-up asked serious questions of last season’s semi-finalists.

He said: “We had four Gallagher Premiership debutants, an 18-year-old full-back, 13 changes from last week and only one proper training day from a five-day turnaround – so considering all of those things combined I’m incredibly proud of the lads tonight.

“It’s obviously incredibly frustrating to concede two tries right at the end when we were within four points, and anyone that knows me knows how much I hate losing, but I’m honestly so proud of the lads for what they produced tonight.

“We’d been written off by everybody, no-one gave us a hope in hell coming away against the Premiership finalists who haven’t lost here in the league for ages, and the lads played their hearts out.

“Trailing 26-10 at half-time I said to them this can go one of two ways – either you shrink from the challenge and the game runs away from you, or you show them what you’re made of. I thought the response from the players was tremendous, and although I’m never happy after a defeat I’m so proud of what they produced out there.”

Showing real character after a disappointing home loss last time out, Codling said: “After the result against Saracens we had a lot of players who had hardly had a shot all season, and we gave them their chance.

“On the back of one day’s proper training it’s incredible really how well they took their opportunity, and I’ve now got some massive selection headaches going into the Exeter home game next Sunday.

“Our resilience, tenacity and togetherness was outstanding, and but for a few kicks we would have been leading going into that last ten minutes.

“Yeah, I’m frustrated – firstly because we lost the game and then secondly because some people will see that score-line and think we got battered. It was anything but, and I was really impressed by a lot of the lads.

“The two props, Phil Brantingham and Murray McCallum, were outstanding. Kiran McDonald and Tim Cardall at lock haven’t had much of a crack this season but they were excellent, Guy Pepper is quality at seven, John Hawkins epitomises what is good about rugby and worked his backside off, and a load of the lads did well.

“I can’t name them all, but James Elliott on his debut had a good game. We showed promise in the back line and that will keep evolving, and we saw glimpses of the improvements we are trying to make with our attack.

“That’s the first time since April 2022 that Sale have conceded four tries at home in the Premiership, and it’s a positive step for us. We’ve just got to stay tight as a group and keep working towards that win, and we’re looking forward to Exeter at home next Sunday.

“There’ll be loads of competition for selection, and guys like Oli Spencer came in and really put his hand up on his Premiership debut. Ben Redshaw is getting better and better for someone so young, and looks really assured. That’s a huge positive, and despite the Saracens performance being poor we’d been really competitive in the previous four.”

Hopeful that the region’s rugby public will be on hand for a Kingston Park cracker against the Chiefs, the head coach said: “We’re looking forward to being back at home and there’s a big initiative with Wor Flags putting on a display at Kingston Park’s West Stand.

“That will be a massive lift for the players, and I’d just urge any Falcons fans or rugby people from the area – get behind us.

“Everyone was hurting after last weekend – trust me, I feel it as much as anybody – but I’d urge you to stick with us and come to the Exeter game to help create that atmosphere together with the players. You make a massive difference, and I sincerely mean that.”

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