Worcester earn crucial Newcastle Falcons win

Worcester Warriors earned their first away win since 2012 by beating Newcastle Falcons 14-15 in the Aviva Premiership.

The result moves Worcester above Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership standings.

After being behind for most of the first half, Worcester managed to grab a 6-7 half-time lead courtesy of a late Dewald Potgieter converted try.

Heem went over for his in the last quarter of the second half, Tom Heathcote also added an earlier penalty. Rob Vickers scored and a third penalty conversion was just not enough to snatch a victory for the home-side.

Both sides went into this game looking for a victory to distance themselves from bottom seeded, London Irish.

The Newcastle were unbeaten at Kingston Park since losing to Saracens in early December.

After an opening 15 minutes of scrum resets and breakdown penalties, Goode eventually opened the scoring for the home side from the tee. 30 minutes in the first half, veteran fly half added another three points.

Worcester’s ill discipline saw them concede six penalties in the first half. Despite Heathcote missing a fairly easy penalty, Springbok flanker Potgieter crossed over for the visitors first points.

Worcester started the second half on the front foot with yet another Heathcote penalty after a TMO decision denied Francois Hougaard try.

The boot of Goode kept the Falcons in the game as he slotted another penalty to bring the score back to 10-9.

Worcester’s second try came in the 61st minute when Heem broke through the Newcastle defensive line to crash over in the corner.

The Warriors were in for a nervy final ten minutes when captain GJ Van Velze was yellow carded for collapsing a driving Newcastle maul.

The Falcons made the extra man count when Vickers powered over from close range.

However, both sides would finish the game with fourteen men, with Newcastle’s Marcus Watson sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on.

The win for the Warriors sees them leapfrog Newcastle into tenth place with London Irish travelling to the Rec to face Bath on Saturday.

Worcester’s recent signing Francois Hougaard was named Aviva Premiership man of the match.

Final Score Newcastle Falcons 14 (6) Worcester Warriors 15 (7)

Scorers

Newcastle Falcons
Tries – Vickers
Pen – Goode (3)
Con –
Drop –

Worcester Warriors
Tries – Potgieter, Heem
Pen – Heathcote
Con – Heathcote
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee :Wayne Barnes (165th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Ashley Rowden & Robin Goodliffe.
TMO: Sean Davey.

Teams

Newcastle Falcons

15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Marcus Watson 10 Andy Goode, 9 Michael Young, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Taione Vea, 4 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (C), 7 Nili Latu, 8 Ally Hogg

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Juan Pablo Socino

Warriors

15 Chris Pennell , 14 Bryce Heem , 13 Wynand Olivier , 12 Ryan Mills , 11 Cooper Vuna , 10 Tom Heathcote , 9 Francois Hougaard , 1 Val Rapava Ruskin , 2 Jaba Bregvadze , 3 Nick Schonert , 4 Donncha O’Callaghan , 5 Darren Barry , 6 Phil Dowson , 7 Dewald Potgieter , 8 GJ van Velze (C)

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett , 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga , 18 James Johnston , 19 Dan Sanderson , 20 Sam Betty , 21 Luke Baldwin , 22 Ryan Lamb , 23 Andy Symons