Newcastle Falcons see off Exeter Chiefs to end 25-game losing streak
They earned a first Premiership victory in over a year last night (18th Oct)
Last updated 19th Oct 2024
Newcastle earned their first Gallagher Premiership victory in over a year after beating fellow strugglers Exeter 24-18 at Kingston Park.
The Falcons went into Friday's clash without a win since March 2023 but brought their 25-game losing streak to an end with a hard-fought victory.
Despite falling behind to an early Chiefs try, Newcastle responded with tries from Philip van der Walt and two either side of the break from Jamie Blamire.
Ethan Grayson's second-half drop goal gave the Falcons some breathing space before Josh Hodge scored a late try for Exeter, but the Falcons held on for a long-awaited triumph.
Exeter took the lead just four minutes into the match after a quick move from the lineout saw them comfortably switch the ball across to the right flank, where Immanuel Feyi-Waboso dived over the line to score. Hodge was unable to convert.
Newcastle looked to threaten deep inside Exeter territory and, after a flurry of lineouts, they got their first try of the evening when Van der Walt managed to break through the Chiefs defence and reach over the line to ground the ball. Grayson added the conversion.
Full-back Hodge restored the Chiefs' lead with two penalties in quick succession, but the Falcons piled on the pressure and did well to recover the ball from an overthrown lineout, although the resulting move saw Sam Stuart's try disallowed.
However, Blamire scored their second try of the night when the hooker tapped a quick penalty before storming over the line and Grayson converted.
Exeter continued to be frustrated as they struggled to build moves and were then handed a blow when Richard Capstick was sent to the sin bin just before the break.
A scrappy start to the second half saw Newcastle kick their way into Exeter territory and begin to threaten with some promising breaks.
They got their reward, scoring from a lineout, with the Falcons breaking away into a quick driving maul and Blamire edging over the line, with Grayson adding the extras.
Hodge tried to put some points back on the board for Exeter, but his long-range kick flew wide of the posts.
Newcastle passed the ball well across the pitch and provided a huge test of the Chiefs defence before Grayson kicked a drop goal to extend their lead further.
Exeter pushed for a late comeback in the final stages and Hodge crossed in the left corner before converting his own try with two minutes to go.
However, the Falcons were able to see the game out and celebrate a win at long last.
Consultant rugby director Steve Diamond was full of praise for his players.
"I'm delighted, the monkey's off the club's back of the longest run of losses," he said.
"We're trying to build something, it's taking time, but the job in hand is to put on performances like that at home.
"Away from home, sometimes we'll struggle with the squad we've got, but at home that's what I expect.
"I saw it a little bit against Bristol, didn't see it against Leicester, but we've simplified everything and tonight was the first time we've stuck to the plan."
Hodge continued:
"We made a defensive error in the first five minutes where we came out of line, the old Newcastle, and we sorted that out.
"Then we looked pretty comfortable, I thought. We struggled under the weather conditions, the wind, we couldn't receive the high ball and that's what kept Exeter in the game in the first half.
"That didn't get any better throughout the game. So we know we've got things to work on, our lineout in the first half didn't operate as swiftly as we'd like it, so we were pleased to go in just in front.
"(I'm) delighted, I think it was two sides who have been struggling and it was an arm wrestle. What we had to do was stay in it and a win tonight was crucial to us to stay with somebody in the league."
Defeat was Exeter's fifth of the season, but they remain one spot above Newcastle, having accumulated five bonus points.
Although they started well, the Chiefs struggled to build phases during the match and director of rugby Rob Baxter admits the team's belief has taken a hit.
He said:
"It's tough to talk about some of the things around penalties we gave away, how poor we were clearing rucks, how easily we lost the ball, they're pretty difficult.
"I imagine some of those things are probably psychological as to where the team are at the minute and that little bit of belief.
"When you're strong and positive and you know everything seems to be working, it does kind of work.
"You're not in two minds, you're just carrying nice and strong, you almost don't force too much into things and things flow for you.
"I thought we were getting on that in the start of the half, but we got knocked off our stride and fair play to Newcastle, they got under our skin and stayed there."