Richards credits Falcons’ wet-weather comeback
Torrential rain and a soft field dictated difficult conditions for both sets of players, Newcastle trailing 3-0 at the interval but battling back through a John Hardie try and two Toby Flood penalties.
“I’ve played here often enough so I know what it’s like, and when the weather closes in like it did it was always going to be a really tough and scrappy affair,” said Richards.
“The heavens opened before the game and dictated what type of game it was going to be, and it was a typical wet-weather Championship-style match.
“After everything Bedford had thrown at us in the first half, to go in at only 3-0 down was actually quite amazing.
“We’d given away a lot of penalties and had a man in the sin bin, and fair dues to the boys for hanging on in there.”
Insisting it was a calm interval changing room despite a disappointing opening 40, the Falcons boss said: “At half-time we basically said Bedford had given us a bit of an education in how to play the conditions, and that we’d do exactly the same to them in the second half.
“We gave away too many needless penalties in the first half so there was a big emphasis on cutting those out, and that was basically it.
“Half-time was really controlled, it wasn’t overly emotional and it was more just tactical talk about how we can get our own game right.
“It wasn’t a classic game by any stretch of the imagination but it was a great one to win, and we’ll get on the bus with another four points.
“We had to dig deep, and as much as there are aspects of the performance which obviously need work I’m actually delighted that we were still able to get the result.”
Newcastle Falcons are next in action on Sunday November 17 when they host Coventry, with tickets for the 3pm kick-off available by [**clicking here**][1].
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/EDP/Event/Index/1486?
