Newcastle relegated after defeat to Gloucester

Colin Newboult

Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Dean Richards before the Gallagher Premiership match at Kingston Park, Newcastle.

Newcastle Falcons have been relegated to the Championship following a 28-19 loss to title challengers Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday.

Signs were positive for Newcastle in the opening 25 minutes as Michael Young and Sinoti Sinoti touched down, but Danny Cipriani and Charlie Sharples added to Jason Woodward’s earlier try to give the Cherry and Whites a nine-point buffer at the break.

That would remain, despite Jamie Blamire briefly giving the Falcons hope, as Matt Banahan sealed the visitors’ fate and secured a third place finish for Johan Ackermann’s team.

Newcastle’s form may have deserted them at just the wrong time over the previous couple of rounds, but they gave a good account of themselves against the West Countrymen.

The visitors constructed an outstanding try early on as Alex Dunbar, Johnny Williams and Toby Flood all combined to allow Young to scamper across the whitewash for a 7-0 advantage.

Ill-discipline has been an issue for the Tynesiders this season, however, and they began to concede penalties. A number of them came close to their own line and a yellow card was inevitable, with Flood the recipient.

With the away side down to 14 men, Gloucester took advantage as a trademark set-piece move ended in Woodward going over, but the Falcons hit back almost immediately.

Dean Richards’ men set up a maul on the opposition 22 and drove towards the line before Sinoti peeled off the back and touched down to regain their advantage.

Once again, last season’s fourth placed finishers failed to build on that score when Cipriani scampered over the line from close range. Newcastle were then dealt a further blow via Calum Green’s sin-binning and Sharples punished the indiscretion, crossing the whitewash for a 21-12 lead at the interval.

To the Falcons’ credit, they began the second half on the front foot and got to within inches of scoring. This time, it was the Cherry and Whites that continually infringed and it led to a yellow card for Lewis Ludlow.

Richards’ charges initially failed to benefit but the pressure eventually paid dividends with Blamire giving them a lifeline going into the final quarter.

Those hopes were extinguished, though, as a poor pass while the Tynesiders were on the attack saw Banahan intercept and go 80 metres to condemn them to the Championship.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Northampton Saints strengthened their position in the play-off race, moving back above Harlequins in the table following a dominant 38-10 triumph over Worcester Warriors.

They scored four tries in the first half through Luther Burrell, Taqele Naiyaravoro (twice) and Tom Wood before Reece Marshall crossed the whitewash after the break.

Finally, in the battle between the top-two, a second-string Saracens side were too good for a similarly under-strength Exeter Chiefs, beating the Devonians 38-7.

It was slow to get going, with Alex Lewington’s try the only score in the first half, but they went over four times in the second period via Lewington, Nick Tompkins and Dom Morris (twice).