NEWC
No.Name
15Alex Tait, FB
14DTH van der Merwe, W
13Chris Harris, C
12Juan Pablo Socino, C
T
11Vereniki Goneva, W
T
2
10Craig Willis, FH
9Tane Takulua, SH
3
1Rob Vickers, P
2Santiago Socino, H
3Jon Welsh, P
4Calum Green, L
5Will Witty, L
6Mark Wilson, FL
7Will Welch, FL
T
8Nili Latu Langilangi, N8
Replacements
16Scott Lawson, R
17Sami Mavinga, R
18Trevor Davison, R
19Sean Robinson, R
20Ally Hogg, R
21Sam Stuart, R
22Joel Hodgson, R
23Josh Matavesi, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Kingston Park
7:45 PM, September 29, 2017
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'29-17 End of second half
80'And that's the game, Falcons win by 12 and go top of the Premiership standings. Quite remarkable.
80'Newcastle keeping it tight as they run the clock.
79'Newcastle have possession back., and they've been awarded a penalty. Referee isn't happy with the replacement scrum half from Irish who is running his mouth. Costly.
78'Irish still on the attack as they look for a bonus point.
76'Fowlie on the counter attack, bounce pass to Lewington who looked to be in but for a last ditch ankle tap from Goneva. He's saved two tries on his opposite man. Irish still on the attack.
73'Newcastle on the attack as they look to settle things down.
71'Irish are in again! Not over yet for the visitors and its another replacement Tom Fowlie with a try in the corner. Some individual brilliance from James Marshall kick started the attack. Could be a grandstand finish.
71'Substitute on - Josh Matavesi , Newcastle Falcons
71'Player substituted - Juan Pablo Socino , Newcastle Falcons
71'29-17 Conversion - Tommy Bell , London Irish
70'29-15 Try - Tom Fowlie , London Irish
69'Irish enjoying a bit more possession as Newcastle relax a little with the game all but in the bag. Irish have a penalty.
68'Substitute on - Ben Meehan , London Irish
68'Player substituted - Scott Steele , London Irish
67'TRY! Irish have their first of the night. Alex Lewington with a brilliant break, sidesteps and offloads inside and the replacement player for Irish scores.
67'Substitute on - Harry Elrington , London Irish
67'Player substituted - Ben Franks , London Irish
67'29-10 Conversion - Tommy Bell , London Irish
67'29-8 Try - Conor Gilsenan , London Irish
65'Player substituted - Tane Takulua , Newcastle Falcons
65'Substitute on - Sam Stuart , Newcastle Falcons
64'Lovely move from the lineout as Steele finds Fainga'a with an inside ball and he runs in to score. But TMO rules a forward pass. Sums up Irish's night.
63'Irish awarded a penalty. They will kick to the corner, and to be fair its a beauty. They'll have a lineout five meters out.
63'Irish with some possession as they try and restore some pride after what's been a one-sided clash so far.
63'Substitute on - Trevor Davison , Newcastle Falcons
63'Player substituted - Jon Welsh , Newcastle Falcons
62'Former Wallabies hooker Sai'a Fainga on for his London Irish debut. Sure he's delighted to be on with his side down by 26.
61'Takulua unsuccessful from the sideline, but Newcastle are well clear now with the bonus point secured.
61'Player substituted - Craig Willis , Newcastle Falcons
61'Substitute on - Joel Hodgson , Newcastle Falcons
61'Player substituted - David Paice , London Irish
61'Substitute on - Saia Fainga'a , London Irish
60'There is a clear grounding, just a matter of whether the player was in touch. He wasn't and that's the fourth for the Falcons!
60'Newcastle have gone very close here from the lineout drive, and the TMO is required. Bodies everywhere.
60'29-3 Try - Will Welch , Newcastle Falcons
59'Newcastle have a lineout following the penalty, and Irish give away yet another penalty at the maul. They'll kick for the corner again as they search for the bonus point try.
59'Player substituted - Nili Latu Langilangi , Newcastle Falcons
59'Substitute on - Ally Hogg , Newcastle Falcons
59'Player substituted - Rob Vickers , Newcastle Falcons
59'Substitute on - Sami Mavinga , Newcastle Falcons
58'An update from Worcester. Saracens lead 18-3 with 15 minutes to go, they've scored two tries.
58'Newcastle turn it over and they kick through and regain possession. Helter-skelter stuff, and the passage of play is finally over after Scott Steele gives away a penalty at the ruck.
58'Player substituted - Napolioni Nalaga , London Irish
58'Substitute on - Tom Fowlie , London Irish
57'Newcastle back on the attack as they go hunting the bonus point try. Turnover though and Lewington is flying towards the Irish line, Goneva does brilliantly to get back and save a definite try.
56'Van der Merwe goes very close after Willis puts a probing grubber kick down the blindside but DTH can't pick it up with one hand.
56'Player substituted - Sebastian de Chaves , London Irish
56'Substitute on - Filo Paulo , London Irish
55'Massive contact as Socino runs straight into James Marshall. Newcastle over the advantage line.
53'Irish lose the lineout, sigh.
52'Newcastle have a lineout close to their 22. Takulua clears from the base and his kick is out on the full. Opportunity here for Irish.
52'Substitute on - Sean Robinson , Newcastle Falcons
52'Player substituted - Will Witty , Newcastle Falcons
50'Substitute on - Oli Hoskins , London Irish
50'Player substituted - Petrus Du Plessis , London Irish
49'Newcastle awarded a penalty after Irish collapse the maul. They're marched 10 meters for the second time tonight. Nick Kennedy looks on with frustration.
48'Bells clears well to Newcastle's 10 metre line.
48'Messy from the Irish scrum, there's a Newcastle knock on somewhere and the visitors will have another chance.
47'Newcastle back on the attack making easy meters again but the last pass isn't quite there. Goneva a constant threat as is Socino (the midfielder).
45'Newcastle make some decent inroads and Irish give away a penalty. Falcons opt for the posts. Meanwhile, for those following earlier here are the details around Scott Baldwin being bitten by a lion in South Africa. Not your average story! Takulua missed the penalty.
41'Back underway as Newcastle restart proceedings. Can Irish turn it around or will this be the Falcons fourth win of the season?
41'Maul called, ball held up and Newcastle go to the break up by 21 points.
41'Irish claim the lineout but again its well contained by Newcastle. Ball is available and Steele goes for a snipe around the ruck.
41'Ball comes loose from the ruck but its another Irish penalty. Surely the referee will be looking to the pocket shortly. Irish kick to tough again.
41'Player substituted - Santiago Socino , Newcastle Falcons
41'Substitute on - Scott Lawson , Newcastle Falcons
41'Substitute on - Conor Gilsenan , London Irish
41'Player substituted - Ofisa Treviranus , London Irish
41'Player substituted - Johnny Williams , London Irish
41'Substitute on - Greig Tonks , London Irish
41'+224-3 End of first half
40'Ben Franks back on after a quick stop to the blood bin. Big moment for Irish here before the break.
40'24-3 Start of second half
40'Player substituted - Harry Elrington , London Irish
40'Substitute on - Ben Franks , London Irish
39'Pinpoint kick gives Irish forwards the best possible chance from the lineout. Newcastle give away a penalty just as the drive was getting close to the try line.
38'Irish have the advantage but they're not making many inroads into Newcastle's defence. Referee blows for the penalty, surely they go for touch again.
37'Irish back with possession as they chase their first try of the half.
34'Chris Harris with a nice line break to get Falcons on the front foot. Bit sloppy next phase as Goneva tidies up and then delivers and audacious pass out the back of the hand.
33'Back to the rugby, Irish are pegged back in their 22 after a nice kick from Willis. Steele boots to safety from the ruck.
32'For those of you following along, bit of breaking news from South Africa. Scott Baldwin didn't play for Ospreys against the Cheetahs due to 'an incident with a lion'. We'll have more shortly.
32'Substitute on - Harry Elrington , London Irish
32'Player substituted - Ben Franks , London Irish
31'Free kick and a get out jail free card for Newcastle. Irish are then marched 10 meters for back chat, nothing going right here.
30'Irish win the lineout and drive. Well contained by Newcastle and it goes to ground. Referee awards a scrum to Newcastle.
29'Irish have some rare possession in good territory and they're given a penalty. They'll kick to the corner, they need a try here.
28'24-3 Conversion - Tane Takulua , Newcastle Falcons
27'TMO says try, felt the evidence from the referee cam was conclusive. So Goneva has his second and Newcastle are cruising.
27'Falcons go very close and the TMO wants to have a look. Try yes or no is the question asked. Goneva might have sneaked one in, not very conclusive though. May have grazed the line.
27'22-3 Try - Vereniki Goneva , Newcastle Falcons
26'Falcons five meters away, Irish desperately holding on.
25'Santiago Socino getting in on the act now with a big break after his brother scored the first try. Newcastle have all the momentum here.
23'What a conversion from the sideline too. And all of a sudden Newcastle lead by 14.
23'17-3 Conversion - Tane Takulua , Newcastle Falcons
22'TRY! Just like London buses, two have come in quick succession for Falcons. Goneva on the end of this one after some lovely work from Latu and Takulua.
22'15-3 Try - Vereniki Goneva , Newcastle Falcons
21'10-3 Conversion - Tane Takulua , Newcastle Falcons
20'TRY! Juan Pablo Socino barges his way through some flimsy Irish defence and sprints through under the posts.
19'Falcons chip through next phase, Irish clean up and Lewington boots it into touch.
19'8-3 Try - Juan Pablo Socino , Newcastle Falcons
18'Irish set the drive from the lineout, but it completely breaks down in the backline and Newcastle toe through and regather possession.
18'Lewington chips through, Goneva does well to back track and clean up before he is tackled into touch. Promising from Irish.
17'Treviranus with a big run to get Irish on the front foot near Newcastle's 22.
17'Willis with the clearance from the restart. Irish will have a lineout near halfway.
16'Takulua makes no mistake and we're back level.
16'3-3 Penalty goal - Tane Takulua , Newcastle Falcons
15'Newcastle playing under advantage for a high tackle. Home side make a big break through Socino and then Wilson in support. Attack breaks down but there's another infringement from Irish and the referee blows his whistle. This time Takulua will have a shot at goal.
14'Brilliant defensive drive from Irish who shove Newcastle into touch. Marshall clears but its straight to Tait.
12'Newcastle win the penalty at the scrum. Du Plessis the guilty party. Newcastle opt for touch, could've opted for the posts. Signal of intent from the home side who will have a lineout roughly 10 metres from the Irish line.
11'Newcastle win the ball back as DTH Van der Merwe gets a chance. The attack breaks down next phase with a knock on and it will be an Irish scrum.
10'Newcastle turn it over and Willis boots downfield but its out on the full. Let off for Irish.
9'Messy phases from Irish and they're yet to make any gains after the scrum. Better from Newcastle.
8'Free kick awarded to Irish at the scrum. They'll go again, big test for Jon Welsh up against former All Black Ben Franks.
7'Marshall goes high and Alex Tait takes it well. Newcastle look a bit disjointed and they've been called for accidental offside. Irish scrum, good urgency on defence early on from the visitors.
6'Takalua charged down from the lineout drive and Irish have possession back.
5'Bit of kick tennis between both sides, with Irish winning out as they find touch just inside the Falcons half.
4'Lewington with another break but no support. Playing under advantage and the referee blows for an Irish penalty. Bell to line up the first shot at goal, and he nails it.
4'0-3 Penalty goal - Tommy Bell , London Irish
2'Irish with some early possession as Lewington makes a half break down the right touch line.
1'Willis receives the kick off and boots straight to touch. Irish win their first lineout.
1'Few tech issues early with the referee, but we are underway with London Irish kicking things off. Irish in their sky blue away kit.
1'Out come both sides, conditions shouldn't be a problem tonight. But first a minute silence for former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd, who passed away this week.
1'There's a chance Newcastle could go top of the standings after tonight's game. They'd need to beat Irish and see how results go at Worcester where the Warriors host Saracens. Newcastle and Saracens are both on 14 points.
1'Good evening and welcome to live commentary for Friday's Round 5 clash between high-flying Newcastle Falcons and London Irish from Kingston Park. No late changes to either side 15 minutes out from kick-off.
1'0-0 Start of first half