Mixed emotions for Walder after Bath win

Saturday 25 September 2021 Written by: Adam


Joyous at a second successive Gallagher Premiership win at The Rec, the former England fly-half was also ruing the Falcons’ failure to take a maximum five-point haul despite leading 20-3 at half time.

“First and foremost we’re delighted with the win, and the boys have enjoyed singing Blaydon Races in the changing room, as they do after every victory,” said Walder.

“But we’re also massively disappointed because we know the bonus point was there for us, and we left a few tries out there.”

First-half tries from Adam Radwan, Iwan Stephens and George McGuigan built the Falcons a comfortable buffer going into the final 40, only for Bath to score the only 10 points of the second half.

“To be three tries up at half-time and not add to that is really frustrating for us and for the players, but on the same note if you’d have offered me four points this morning I would have taken it,” said Walder.

“We controlled the game for large periods without really putting our foot on the throat, and there are lots of learnings for us.

“In the first half I thought we were exceptional in terms of what we set out to do – controlling the crowd and playing in the right areas.

“I thought Will Haydon-Wood and Louis Schreuder showed outstanding game management in keeping us where we needed to be, our back row didn’t give Bath a sniff at the breakdown and our wingers were ruthless in taking their chances.

“Bath were always going to come into it at some stage because they’re a quality outfit, but I felt we killed enough of the game in boring terms to maybe weather the last 20 minutes.

“Had we scored first in that second half I think it’d have been game over and we’d have ran away with it, but we didn’t manage to do it.

“That’s the most disappointing aspect, but we’ll get back on the bus and head up the motorway with four points in the bag, which isn’t a bad return.”

The Falcons are next in action when they host Wasps on Saturday October 2. The Gallagher Premiership clash at Kingston Park Stadium is a 3pm kick-off and is not on TV in the UK.

[**Click here**][1] to book your tickets.

[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/EDP/Event/Index/1651