Lawson Calls On Falcons To Retain Focus
Scott Lawson is under no illusions of the test that awaits his Newcastle Falcons side at Kingston Park Stadium this Sunday.
However the Scotland international believes his side, unbeaten at home for the last five games, are in the best possible position to take on Northampton Saints.
“The league points are what it’s about but stats don’t lie, and we’re in that situation because we’ve worked hard.
“Now that we’re getting the results we’re really focussing on the performance itself and on going back to those basics to make sure we turn up every week.”
Lawson, who this Sunday will make his 61st appearance for the Falcons, has started all but one of the club’s recent home victories, and believes that recent results have been very much earned by the team.
“I think we’ve been rewarded with the performance; we’ve worked hard and put in good performances then got the results off the back of it.
“In the past potentially we didn’t put in the same amount of effort and there were one or two key points in the game that we were in control of which slipped away from us. But now we’ve actually got that belief that if we do stick to this formula we will get those results and the league points that we’ve been craving for so long.”
And with another stern test looming large this weekend, the 46-times capped international front row believes it’s important not to become complacent,
“We come in and say the result’s great but we also have to focus on the performance. From a forwards point of view we’ve fronted up against some very good packs in recent weeks, and Northampton are no different, they’ve got that confrontational pack and base their game around it.
“We know that has to be the same every week because it is the same every week in the Premiership; you’ve got your forward platform and off the back of that our backs are creating those chances.
“Both of our tries at the weekend were examples of us taking our chances and showed the forwards and backs working together coupled with a bit of belief about who we are. Recent form does suggest we’re doing well but we have to keep those fundamentals in place.
“For me we are a hard working team, our defence has improved massively, we’re pressurising teams and teams are making a lot more errors against us. There’s a reason for that because whether you’re doing kick chase or in the contact area it’s just about understanding the reasons this turnaround has happened and doing the little things a bit better to keep going with that.”
With the Falcons having turned over Bath, Harlequins and Leicester Tigers at home already this year, news of their current form has spread far and wide, particularly amongst fellow top league professionals.
“We’re being told that we’re a hard team to play against – physical, confrontational and from a forwards point of view you’re trying to lay that platform, but we have got a balance to that in our game too.
“We have really good attacking backs and things that will stress the opposition; we’re scoring through pick and go’s and driving line outs and things in recent weeks, but we’re also creating tries out wide as well. I think now we have a real balance to our game alongside a solid foundation to play off.”
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s game against Northampton Saints (ko 3pm) starting from £15 for adults and £5.50 for juniors.
For more information or to get yours click [here][1], visit the Kingston Park Stadium Box Office or call the Falcons’ 24 hour Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060.
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/default.aspx
