Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Premiership: Saracens 37-23 Newcastle Falcons - Hosts fight back for bonus-point win

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Saturday, 09 October 2021 09:30

Saracens marked their Premiership homecoming by battling back from 17-3 down to beat Newcastle.

Tries from debutant Mike Brown and Ben Stevenson helped the visitors build a commanding lead, but a penalty try closed the gap to 17-10 at the break.

Jamie George then caught the Falcons out with a quick tap to go through and level the scores and Mako Vunipola touched down to put Sarries in front.

Billy Vunipola went over in the last minute to earn the bonus point.

Saracens, playing their first home game since winning promotion back to the Premiership, are now unbeaten in their past 22 matches against the Falcons in all competitions.

It had looked like Dean Richards' men could have brought that wretched record to an end after a fine opening 30 minutes, but Sarries ultimately showed their class.

They had Sean Maitland sent to the sin-bin after seven minutes for a high tackle, but took the lead while a man light when Owen Farrell kicked a penalty.

However, debutant Brown showed all his vast experience to spot a gap in the home backline and go over from a crash ball between the posts to put the Falcons ahead.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Billy Vunipola had the ball stripped inside his own 20 and Stevenson broke through a tackle to race in at the corner.

Tim Swinson was held up over the line by some great last-ditch defence by the Falcons after he had been released by a wonderful no-look pass from Max Malins.

Sarries fought back after Brett Connon had kicked the Falcons into a 14-point lead when they were awarded a penalty try after the visitors pulled down a maul and had George McGuigan sent to the sin-bin.

George used his initiative to catch the Falcons out after the restart when he tapped the ball to himself and powered over.

Mako Vunipola, on his first appearance of the season, then touched down in the corner.

Newcastle could not keep their discipline in the face of constant pressure and England captain Farrell kicked Saracens into a 10-point lead with just over 20 minutes to go.

A long-range Connon penalty got the Falcons back within seven and put them on course for a losing bonus point.

But Mark McCall's side kicked a penalty to the corner in the 80th minute and Billy Vunipola made it the perfect day with the bonus-point winning try.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"I think Billy (Vunipola) has played well in all three games this season.

"It was Mako's first game since the Lions tour and he was excellent and Jamie (George) was outstanding - the more he plays, the more Mako plays - the better they will be.

"Our set-piece got on top of them in the second half and a lot of the access to their goalline that we got was because of a lot of their good work."

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:

"When the momentum and the referee got on to our backs a little bit, it's about understanding that street-wiseness and how to change perception and we didn't do that.

"Owen Farrell was in his ear the whole time and with him being in his ear the whole time it changed the momentum of the game.

"There was a passage of play where they went off their feet twice in a ruck.

"There were three offences they committed and then we committed a very minor one on the far side, but he penalised us.

"It's up to us how to learn to change the referee's perception of what's going on and the momentum of the game. You do that by being squeaky clean and highlighting what they're doing."

Saracens: M. Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Hunter-Hill, Swinson, Isiekwe, Earl, B. Vunipola, Davies; Farrell (capt), Maitland, Lozowski, Morris, Lewington, Malins.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Mawi, Clarey, Reffell, Christie, Van Zyl, Goode, Tompkins.

Sin-bin: Maitland (7 mins).

Newcastle: Brown, Radwan, Stevenson, Lucock, Earle, Connon, Schreuder; Brocklebank, McGuigan, Davison, Fuser, Robinson, Graham, Welch (capt), Chick.

Replacements: Blamire, Cooper, Mulipola, Montgomery, Basham, Nordli-Kelemeti, Haydon-Wood, Wacokecoke.

Sin-bin: McGuigan (37 mins)

Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU).

Read 236 times

Soccer

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer...

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated