Falcons win 'coming for a while'
Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Dean Richards was a happy man as the north-east side ended a run of 20 straight league games without a win, courtesy of a 29-24 victory at home to Exeter at the weekend.
Both teams scored three tries apiece but Noah Cato's 69th-minute effort gave Newcastle the edge and a nervous final 10 minutes for the Kingston Park faithful ended with Falcons and Scotland back row forward Allister Hogg kicking the ball dead after Exeter had been pressing for an equalising try from a five-metre scrum.
With only one side facing relegation at the end of the season, Newcastle's win was especially sweet ahead of next week's clash with promoted London Welsh, currently bottom of the table after five straight league defeats.
Newcastle, however, had been on an even worse losing streak dating back to last season before finally giving their loyal fans a win to savour.
"We've been playing a good brand of rugby all year, playing a really expansive game and trying to score tries," said Richards.
The former England No.8, banned from coaching for three years in 2009 for his role in the 'Bloodgate' fake injury scandal that took place while he was in charge of Harlequins, added: "People ask me if is relief that we've won but it's been coming for a while. I am delighted for the players and I thought we deserved it."
Looking ahead to this coming Saturday's match away to London Welsh, Richards said: "This will be a real confidence boost for the players going into the London Welsh game which will be a bit like a cup final for them and us, for that matter. There is a completely different atmosphere in the changing room now."
Richards's Exeter counterpart Rob Baxter did not pull his punches after seeing the south-west side squander a 24-17 lead.
"Rugby is a game where you tend to get what you deserve and Newcastle deserved the win," he said.
This past Sunday's other English top-flight match saw flyhalf Danny Cipriani kick 10 points against his former club as Sale, who ran in three tries, beat Wasps 25-14.
It was just the result Sale needed after a run of three defeats in four games, with a solitary win over struggling London Welsh.
"There was a relief in the changing room afterwards, we needed the win," said Sale boss Steve Diamond.
"What we've tried to do is not stress the team and put them under too much pressure, but there's a time when the talking has to stop."
Diamond suggested Wasps had paid the price for "resting" England forwards James Haskell and Joe Launchbury but opposing coach Dai Young insisted the duo were not fully fit.
"Launchbury has got a bit of a neck strain. If it was a cup final he could have played but we have a responsibility to look after him and make sure he's right," Young said.
"It's the same with Haskell. We've all seen his performances to date, he's been totally battered and hasn't trained all week," the former Wales prop added.
