THREE OUT OF THREE FOR RICHARDS AS FALCONS MARCH ON
The bonus point win ensured the Falcons notched up their third straight victory of the campaign to rubber-stamp their position at the top of the Championship with maximum points.
A dramatic try from Jimmy Gopperth with the last play of the game kept the Falcons’ 100 per cent record intact to the delight of the majority of the crowd inside Kingston Park.
“On the whole it was a good disciplined performance and we were clinical in some ways,” said Richards.
“They didn’t look like scoring and we just tightened the screw up and got what we wanted out of the game. I think what we struggled to do was to understand how to get over the line.
“We didn’t struggle defensively and our defence was pretty strong throughout the game and it was more about us struggling to get over the line and make the pressure tell,” added Richards.
Keen to promote attractive attacking rugby at Kingston Park, Richards acknowledged the impact of the elements on his side’s ability give the ball air in the backs.
He said: “The wind was a lot stronger than what people realised and with it being as strong as it was, it just wasn’t working when we tried to move the ball.
“We just had to tighten the game up and instead of doing the longer passes we just had to do the shorter passes and play a little more direct.
“It is a shame as there was a good turn out here tonight and we would have liked to have thrown the ball around a little bit more.
“Unfortunately that wasn’t the case but we scored four tries which we wanted to and I thought it was a polished performance from us.”
Looking forward to next week’s clash at Cornish Pirates, Richards is well aware of the dangers posed by the men from the southwest, saying: “Cornish Pirates will be a tough game and I don’t think there are many Premiership sides that could go down to Penzance and get a result and it will be a difficult day at the office next week.
“Obviously we will go down to win as we do in every game and there is no game where I don’t expect the players to get the win.
“We will see what happens and I am looking forward to it next week.”
The Falcons next home game is against Leeds Carnegie on Friday 28 September (kick-off 8pm). Tickets are still available by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
