Davies ready for second half of Play Off semi
Newcastle Falcons scrum half Andy Davies is hopeful he can be part of a sporting upset this weekend as Rotherham Titans look to overhaul a 12 point deficit in the second leg of their Green King IPA Championship semi final playoff spot.
Davies has been one of a number of Falcons who has been involved with the Yorkshire club’s season in the Championship as part of the dual registration arrangement between the two clubs and was part of Rotherham side who more than matched their more vaunted opposition last weekend.
Having enjoyed the game at Ashton Gate, Davies is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s second leg and believes he and his team mates still have it in them to derail Bristol’s premiership ambitions.
Speaking to the Falcons website, Davies said: “We’re full of confidence going into Sunday. I think we showed over that first 60 minutes how good we are and how we can be a match for Bristol after going into the game as quite big outsiders and no one really gave us a chance.”
“For us, it was absolutely huge to prove that we were good enough. We were a bit frustrated the way our defence fell off a little bit and we were falling of some tackles, which allowed Bristol to get them back into the game and get ahead, but we still have lots of hope based on the first 60 mins.”
“It’s only half time, if we come out all guns firing and get an early try or early points on the board, it puts the pressure back onto Bristol a little bit.”
“Nicky Robinson seemed to organise them a little bit better and they seemed to run off him a little better but I think we relaxed a little bit and we’ve got a bit of a hoodoo against Bristol where we seem to be very close up until the last 15 minutes.”
“I don’t know if that was playing on the boys minds a little bit and we didn’t have the belief that we can actually beat Bristol.”
As a member of the Falcons academy set up, Davies has been gaining experience by featuring for the Titans and has also had the opportunity to put that to use for the Falcons on five occasions so far this season.
The first leg of the play off in Bristol however was arguably the biggest game of his career to date and one that the scrum half says had a memorable atmosphere.
“It’s right up there, it was eerily quiet when we were on top in that first half, there wasn’t really much noise, but when they got going in that last 20 minute, you definitely heard them.”
“A few of the boys could still hear our Roth fans which is good and gives you that little bit of a lift. Hopefully we’ll hear more of that this Sunday at Abbeydale.”
Being involved in the business end of the 2014/15 Championship is also something that Davies believes will stand him in good stead in terms of his own personal development.
“It’s awesome being involved, this is what the whole season is about in the championship, trying to get yourself into these spots and to be fighting for promotion. These are absolutely huge games that are worth so much to the clubs involved and it’s a good platform to show what you can do and what skills you have.”
With 12 points the gap between the two sides, the advantage does sit with Bristol, but in a pressure cooker environment, Davies isn’t ruling out the possibility of an upset.
“There is a heck of an amount of pressure on everyone involved but probably more so with Bristol and Worcester, they really expect to be in these places. For the Rotherham’s and London Scottish, it’s not that we’re just happy to be there, but there wasn’t as much pressure to do so.”
“The chance of pushing Rotherham into the Premiership was unthinkable but you see that first half on Saturday and we can do it. This is where all your practice from pre season and the whole of the season pay off. This is when the pressure is on and when it really counts.”
