Match Report
Heriot's - 12
Newcastle Falcons - 0
Leading 26-12 at half-time and accelerating thereafter, the Falcons’ high-tempo game saw offloading and ambition in no short supply as forwards and backs shared out the tries.
Newcastle got off to the ideal start, scoring their first try just two minutes in when a 60-metre move saw England Under-20s cap Louie Johnson scoring in the left corner. The fly-half was played in by Iwan Stephens after quick hands down the short-side, with James Blackett’s touchline conversion only missing by millimetres.
Heriot’s drew level four minutes later when Sam Pecqueur chased a grubber kick to the left corner and grounded impressively, the missed conversion attempt leaving the sides level.
Newcastle applied a wave of pressure which finally delivered a second try around the quarter mark – a quick tap penalty from Charlie Maddison from five metres out seeing the hooker plough over the line.
Blackett converted, but the teams were level again on the half hour when visiting skipper Ruairidh Leishman intercepted a floated pass 30 metres out and darted into the left corner – Bruce Houston converting.
Parity only remained for two minutes as Newcastle regained their seven-point advantage, prop-forward Richard Palframan displaying an impressive turn of pace to sprint home for a memorable score, converted by Blackett.
Newcastle sped in for their fourth try just before the interval, Johnson scoring for the second time as his one-two with Ollie Lindsay-Hague down the right ensured a 60-metre attack ended profitably for the home side.
Blackett added the touchline conversion, leaving the Falcons 26-12 up at half-time, and it took just two minutes of the second half for them to add that tally when Maddison scored from a front peel at the line-out.
Blackett again added the touchline conversion, and the Falcons passed the 40 mark when lock George Merrick collected an interception on halfway and showed a fine turn of pace to sprint home for the converted try.
Heriot’s chipped seven off that margin when a line-out in the left corner saw replacement hooker Cammie Fenton breaking from the back of a maul, the conversion added by Ross Jones from wide out.
Iwan Stephens restored the Falcons’ dominance when he put his foot on the gas and sped past every defender in his path to score a converted try, and Ollie Fletcher followed quickly after from a driving maul in the left corner.
The Scots hit back when winger James Couper crossed in the left corner, but Lindsay-Hague had the last say for the Falcons when he collected a pass from Alex Tait to score in the right corner.
**Newcastle Falcons A:** 15 Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Max Wright, 12 Pete Lucock (captain), 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 James Blackett; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Charlie Maddison, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 George Merrick, 5 Will Montgomery, 6 Matt Deehan, 7 Marcus Tiffen, 8 Tom Marshall.
**Replacements:** 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Conor Kenny, 19 Arinze Okemuo (Newcastle University), 20 George Bennett-Teare (Newcastle University), 21 Will Haydon-Wood, 22 Zach Kerr, 23 Chidera Obonna.
**Scorers –** Tries: Louie Johnson 2, Richard Palframan, Charlie Maddison 2, George Merrick, Iwan Stephens, Ollie Fletcher, Ollie Lindsay-Hague. Conversions: James Blackett 5.
**Heriot’s:** 15 Ross Jones, 14 James Couper, 13 Bobby Kay, 12 Luke Armstrong, 11 Sam Pecqueur, 19 Bruce Houston, 9 Murdo McAndrew; 1 Chris Keen, 2 Michael Liness, 17 Euan McLaren, 4 Fraser Hastie, 25 Ronan Seydak, 6 Ruairidh Leishman (captain), 7 Iain Wilson, 27 Jason Hill.
**Replacements:** 16 Cammy Fenton, 3 Struan Cessford, 18 Dan Gamble, 26 Jack Mann, 20 Gregor Tait, 21 Jed Gelderbloom, 22 Finn Campbell, 23 Jamie Campbell.
**Scorers –** Tries: Sam Pecqueur, Ruairidh Leishman, Cammie Fenton, James Couper. Conversions: Bruce Houston, Ross Jones 2.
**Referee:** Gregg Dawson.
