Falcons make one change for Saints’ visit

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons have made just one change to their side for Friday night’s Guinness Premiership visit of Northampton Saints to Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).

Following on from Sunday’s 15-11 win at high-flying London Irish director of rugby Steve Bates has chosen to stick with the bulk of that side, the only change coming on the wing as Tom Biggs replaces fellow Yorkshireman Danny Williams.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bates said: “Last weekend was a fantastic result down at London Irish, on the back of a lot of hard work.

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Feelgood factor takes hold at Falcons

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

The feelgood factor has taken hold again in Newcastle, with the high-flying Falcons making significant gains on all fronts.

Sunday’s 15-11 Guinness Premiership victory at hot favourites London Irish made it three league wins on the bounce for Steve Bates’ side, with the biggest home attendance of the season so far expected at Friday night’s visit of Northampton Saints.

Strong pre-sales indicate that the Falcons are well-placed to build on their top-half-of-the-league position and beat the attendance figure of 5,714, which witnessed a 17-17 draw with Harlequins at Kingston Park back in September.

The good news just keeps on coming for the club with all but the very last few remaining 700 corporate places already sold for Friday night’s encounter, as interest in North-East rugby continues to hot up.

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Charlie Amesbury looks to get one over on Quins

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 in Rugby News

Flying Falcon Charlie Amesbury will be looking to get one over on his former club, as Harlequins travel to face Newcastle in Sunday’s LV= Cup clash at Kingston Park (kick-off 3pm).

The 23-year-old has been one of the finds of the season for the Falcons, scoring three tries in his ten appearances at both winger and fullback.

Having featured in the 17-17 draw when Newcastle and Harlequins met at Kingston Park in league action back in September, the former England Sevens international said: “I’ve already had that experience once this year, playing against my old team, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I was dreading it before the game thinking they were going to give me digs here there and everywhere, but I got my fair share and really enjoyed being up against some good friends and former team mates.

“At the end of the day I’m a Newcastle player now, and although Harlequins holds a bit of sentiment for me Sunday is no different to any other game.

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Grimes lays down the gauntlet to Falcons pack

Posted on Nov 10, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle assistant coach Stuart Grimes has laid down the challenge to his Falcons pack, ahead of Sunday’s LV= Cup visit of Harlequins to Kingston Park (kick-off 3pm).

Having seen his side concede a hat-trick of second-half tries from driving mauls in defeat to Worcester last weekend, the Scotland great wasted no time in highlighting the areas for improvement.

“From a forward coach’s perspective last weekend went pretty badly on the whole, although there were some positives to take away,” said Grimes.

“The scrum was very good, the line out on our own throw went okay but defensively we conceded three tries from line outs which is obviously not acceptable.

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Falcons grow “Mullets for MENCAP”.

Posted on Nov 9, 2009 in Rugby News

Four Newcastle Falcons players have pledged to ‘grow a Mullet’ for the club’s chosen charity, Mencap.

Micky Ward, Rob Vickerman, Matt Thompson and Kieran Brookes have all taken up the challenge to grow the best mullet, raising money in the process.

The iconic ‘business at the front, party at the back’ hairstyle has been synonymous with sporting greatness for many a year, with local lad Chris Waddle among its numerous exponents.

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