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Saracens put up cricket score against Newcastle in Kingston Park rout
By PA
Saracens produced a wonderful display to dismiss Newcastle Falcons and gain a bonus point in a 50-12 rout at Kingston Park.
A double from Theo Dan, combined with tries for Elliot Daly and Alex Lewington overturned an early effort from Sebastian de Chaves to give the away side a 28-7 lead at the interval.
Bryan Byrne dotted down to give the Falcons hope, but a trio of tries from Tom Willis, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Manu Vunipola snuffed out any thoughts of a comeback.
The hosts have now lost their opening five league games, while their opponents registered their third successive Premiership win.
The visitors lost Callum Hunter-Hill to injury in the warm-up – with Ollie Stonham stepping up to start in his place – while former Saracens prop Eduardo Bello made his first league start for the Falcons.
It was the hosts who made the early ground and were rewarded in the fifth minute when De Chaves powered over to give Brett Connon a simple conversion opportunity.
After a bright opening, things began to unravel for the north-east side when Elliott Obatoyinbo was sin-binned after 12 minutes for a deliberate knock-on.
Dan touched down shortly after from a maul on the left and Alex Lozowski added the extras to level the scores.
The home side were able to fend off the champions while down to 14 but could not stop a superb run from Daly in the 26th minute, who moved from left to right and found a way through to put Sarries in front.
And the lead was extended in the 34th minute – Lewington running laterally to round the Falcons defensive line and dotting down in the left corner, with Lozowski putting away the tricky conversion from the touchline.
Dan scored again – in a very similar manner to his first – to give his side a bonus point they thoroughly deserved on their first-half performance.
Lozowski added another three points from the tee shortly after the break, before Byrne gave the crowd something to cheer with the hosts’ second try – Connon was unable to nail the conversion from the right.
Saracens have not lost to the Falcons in the league since February 2009 – and that run never looked in danger, as Willis went over on the flank for the visitors’ fifth try and it took a last-ditch tackle from Adam Radwan to stop Lewington going over again.
Sarries lock Stonham was sin-binned for high contact with 14 minutes to go to offer a glimmer of hope that Newcastle might get something from the game.
However, the returning Gonzalez and Vunipola went over to end any lingering doubts and condemned the Tyneside club to another loss.
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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