Harris hails fantastic support
Double try scoring Aviva Premiership debutant Chris Harris was full of gratitude to the 9,192 spectators who packed Kingston Park to the rafters last Saturday, and is hopeful that the performance shown by the Falcons is enough to encourage them back for further fixtures during the season.
The biggest crowd since a 10,200 sell out on May 7th 2008, were in fine voice throughout Saturday’s Aviva Premiership encounter, with the Cumbrian centre crediting that support in playing a vital role, in what could have been a glorious victory.
“The crowd were absolutely fantastic today and it really helps the team to have such a big crowd getting behind you and putting the opposition under pressure, so if we can have a few of them come back a bit more often, then it will be great.”
An even game where both sides bagged three tries a piece, Harris was at the fore of his team’s attempts to send the majority of the crowd home happy, bagging a brace of tries in a thrilling fight-back which earned the team a well-earned bonus point.
It was another eye catching performance from the man from Carlisle, who had shown well in the club’s European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign however the 24 year old, who celebrated his birthday a day after the game, is keen to highlight the team effort that put him in position to add those crucial scores.
“I was just lucky to be on the end of some good team play that earned us the chance to get those scores. We were really pumped for it, we had a game plan which we stuck to and it allowed us to put Saracens on the back foot a little bit.”
“It and it almost paid off for us, I think we were unlucky not to come away with more than a losing bonus point.”
A point of view shared by many of the supporters commenting through social media following the game, Harris and his team mates are now keen to take the next step and convert a half season of exciting and entertaining rugby into points that will propel the club upwards in the Aviva Premiership table.
“We’re developing really well now and we just need to keep working on those little aspects and finishing passes and we will start to come away with more than a losing bonus points. Our play has changed from what it was last year, we’re playing a lot more rugby now, with the boys enjoying it and be given a licence to play.”
Newcastle Falcons are next in action on Friday when they travel to Franklin’s Gardens to take on Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership.
