Irish work hard to get back on track
London Irish………………… 39pts
Tries: Stokes 9, Jackson 54, Cinti 59, 75; Coleman 71
Conversions: Jackson 10, 55, 72, 76
Penalties: Jackson 20, 40+1
Newcastle…………………….. 17pts
Tries: Radwan 14, Pepper 49
Conversions: Connon 15, 50
Penalties: Connon 45
London Irish, after five straight League defeats, breathed life back into their Premiership campaign with this hard -earned and patient victory over Newcastle Falcons.
With a big Champions Cup match against Montpellier in Brentford on Friday their return to winning ways was both timely and necessary.
It wasn't quite as comfortable as the score line might suggest, Falcons leading on 50 minutes and hinting at a big finish but Irish suddenly found their A game in attack and pulled away in style./
Both sides might be ‘basement stragglers' but Irish have been scoring freely and Newcastle were hot after two wins on the trot so a decent game seemed very likely.
It didn't disappoint although Irish had to reset after the late withdrawal through injury of Benhard van Rensburg, their best player this season and midfield inspiration. Italy's Luca Morisi was drafted in, a fine player but not the physical presence of the tough South African.
Irish made a positive start though with a try for James Stokes after Gus Creevy had initially gone close when they attacked off a lineout. Irish suddenly moved the recycled ball to the right and Stokes felt able to ignore Ben Loader on the overlap to eventually force his way over for a converted try.
Falcons hit back with a cracker with the dangerous Adam Radwan using his extreme pace to come off his wing and loop around the Irish defence to send fellow speedster Mateo Carreras in for a cracking try.
Thereafter it was excellent defence that held the attention, the only additional scoring before the break coming from two Paddy Jackson penalties. Irish should probably have chalked up a second try but Will Joseph blew a two-man overlap with the try line begging although credit must also go to Radwan for getting across to make a tackle the young Exiles centre clearly wasn't expecting.
After the break it was all Falcons for ten minutes with a penalty from Brett Conon and a converted try for Guy Pepper after the promising flanker rumbled over from the lineout move that normally results in a score for George McGuigan.
That was the cue though for Irish to go to work in earnest with Jackson leading from the front with a try under the posts after a good burst and even better offload from Ollie Hassell-Collins in midfield.
The floodgate opened with Irish's young wing Luciano Cinti the main beneficiary. A 50-22 from Hassell-Collins got them on the front foot and good hands left to right put Cinti away and although it was Aussie lock Adam Coleman, returning from an injury layoff, who barged his was over from short range for the bonus point try, it was the young Pumas wing who had the final word with his second score.
Not bad for somebody who started the afternoon expecting to watch from the stands but got called in after the reshuffle to accommodate Van Rensburg's absence. Irish have oodles of talent and perhaps after this they will begin to blossom again, as they did last season.
Newcastle coach Dave Walder said: “We were still in the game at halftime, played well for ten minutes after the break but the mistakes returned and started draining our energy. Ultimately, we weren't good enough today. London Irish played well and put us to the sword.”
