Interim head coach Micky Ward praised his Newcastle Falcons side’s first-half efforts at Northampton Saints on Saturday, but admitted the game had got away from them as they fell to a 38-13 defeat.

Trailing the league leaders 19-13 at half-time, Ward said: “The final score-line doesn’t lie but at 45 minutes in we were six points down and very much in the game.

“Even in the first half we probably left a couple of tries out there, and I thought we started well. We let them off the hook and should probably have led at half-time, but Northampton are a quality side and we always knew they would bounce back.

“We didn’t help ourselves by going off-script, guys going off on their own, one-man carries, and it cost us. We had a try turned down by the TMO, one held up over the line and not quite found the final pass on a few other occasions.

“It’s just being clinical and having the discipline to stick to the plan, because when we did that I thought we looked good.

“Northampton got the crowd behind them and one try became two, then three, and it’s hard to stop when they get rolling like that. Fair play to them, they’re a good side, but we started chasing the game and the structure kind of disappeared a bit from there.

“It’s hard to recover once you’re in that position, but I was pretty happy with the first half. We’d spoken all week about belief and enjoyment, and I thought the lads demonstrated that, so I was fairly pleased by what we produced during that period.”

Incoming consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond was watching the game from the stands before taking the reins next week, and Ward is enthused by the prospect of the former Sale, Worcester and Edinburgh boss coming in.

“Dimes was here watching today and he’s been really supportive during the week,” he said.

“Everyone knows what he’s about – he will come in and simplify things, at least during the early part of his time with us, and I think he’ll be great for the club.

“He’ll build a good foundation and then add things to it as and when we can, and he’s got a couple of months to put those plans in place until our next league game.

“The timing is ideal from that point of view, and it’s a line in the sand for us.

“Everything’s fresh, we’ve got a new boss coming in and we can kick on from here.

“I’ve enjoyed my brief stint as head coach and had really good support from the players and staff. I think we’ve got plenty to offer as a group, and Dimes will come in and look to get the best out it.”