Gloucester secured third spot with a win over Newcastle that saw the visitors relegated one week before the end of the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season. Despite a frantic first half of rugby Newcastle’s ill discipline gave them too much to do. A spirited second half display wasn’t enough and Gloucester left Kingsholm with a win.
Newcastle Falcons relegated following Gloucester loss
Despite owning all the early pressure Gloucester couldn’t make it pay and the visitors were first on the scoreboard. A great team try, length of the field with some blissful hands was finished under the posts by Michael Young who gave the visitors the first of their four needed tries.
After a huge bout of pressure and a smorgasbord of penalties conceded by Newcastle, Toby Flood was sent to the sin bin. The pressure told and after a strong scrum the ball was played out to Woodward who broke the defence for his first try since returning to action. Twelvetrees levelling the game.
Despite being a man down the Falcons replied swiftly. A mistake from Gloucester allowed the visitors to go for touch and from the driving lineout Sinoti Sinoti broke free to give his side the lead once again.
The game began to open up and soon after Callum Braley thought he’d scored, only to be ruled as held up. The try didn’t take long to come though, Braley feeding in Danny Cipriani for their second. Twelvetrees conversion giving them the lead.
Gloucester pressed home their advantage following some more ill discipline from the visitors that saw Calum Green sent to the bin. Some quick scrum half work from Ruan Ackermann sent Charlie Sharples over and the hosts were looking threatening.
Some poor Newcastle discipline put them under further pressure, but they held out for the half time whistle.
Half time; Gloucester 21-12 Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle came out firing on all cylinders in the second half knowing they need more tries, but couldn’t find the way through the Gloucester defence. Some outstanding maul defence capping off a disappointing attack for the Falcons.
Newcastle pressed hard and following a yellow card to Lewis Ludlow powered over at the driving maul as George McGuigan got their third. Leicester fans watched on nervously as their relegation rivals went on another attack up field.
Nemani Nagusa in support, threw an interception pass that Matt Banahan run all the way home to seal Gloucester as the third placed team this season.
Gloucester looked far more comfortable once they had claimed their bonus point and played a lot of rugby in the middle third of the pitch. Comfortable with ball in hand and dishing then ball around amongst the replacements coming on.
Despite showing plenty of passion and desire Newcastle couldn’t get their bonus point victory and were officially relegated a week early.
Full time; Gloucester 28-19 Newcastle Falcons
Gloucester: Jason Woodward, Charlie Sharples, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Matt Banahan, Danny Cipriani, Callum Braley, Josh Hohneck, Franco Marais, Fraser Balmain, Ed Slater, Franco Mostert, Ruan Ackermann, Jaco Kriel, Ben Morgan (C). Replacements; Mike Sherry, Val Rapava Ruskin, Ruan Dreyer, Lewis Ludlow, Jake Polledri, Ben Vellacott, Lloyd Evans, Henry Purdy.
Newcastle Falcons: Alex Tait, Zach Kibirgie, Alex Dunbar, Johnny Williams, Sinoti Sinoti, Toby Flood (C), Michael Young, Logovoi’i Mulipola, George McGuigan, Rodney Ah You, Calum Green, Sean Robinson, Callum Chick, Gary Graham, Nemani Nagusa. Replacements; Santiago Socino, Sam Lockwood, Trevor Davison, Will Witty, Jamie Blamire, Sam Stuart, Tim Swiel, George Wacokecoke.
Referee: Tom Foley
Attendance: 14,442
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Rugby for more on this and other stories from around the world of rugby, as they develop. You can always count on LWOR to be on top of the major news in the rugby world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the rugby world.
“Main photo credit”
