Noon's Day in Sun Leaves Saracens Out in Cold

Now this was a surprise. The very facts of Newcastle's previous away victory in the Premiership being back in November 2006 and their last win here coming in 2001 reveal that much.

But it was not only that. It was also that Saracens had been playing so well. That is why 17,223, their biggest crowd since March 1998, turned up yesterday. Of course there was the Jonny Wilkinson factor to consider as well but the script was ready for the much improved Saracens to slip into second place in the table and usher in the new year in style.

Newcastle were having none of it, though. And it was not solely a Wilkinson-inspired triumph. In fact he had a quiet game. There was one thumping second-half tackle on Kris Chesney but he missed kicks and in general appeared content for the inside-center, Toby Flood, to assume more of the controller role.

Rather Newcastle's heroes were elsewhere. Indeed Flood was one of them. Maybe he overdid the kicking out of hand but he was always a lively presence and thoroughly deserved his first-half try. "He's nearly as good as Wilkinson," said the Falcons' director of rugby, John Fletcher, afterwards.

Outside Flood the captain, Jamie Noon, was inspirational. Fittingly his try sealed proceedings with fewer than three minutes to go.

Minutes earlier Saracens had taken the lead for the first time, Hugh Vyvyan's unconverted try making it 19-15. And when a penalty was awarded Noon immediately pointed to the corner, where his forwards again demonstrated the strides they have made this season with another forceful driving line out. After a couple of pick-and-drives from the pack, the ball was delivered to Wilkinson, whose pop pass was taken by Noon at speed. From such short range Noon's power makes him nigh unstoppable and so it proved. Wilkinson's conversion was the icing, needless as it happened.

"I thought we just deserved to win," said Fletcher. He was right, too. The potency of his side's scrummage shocked Saracens and his backs, with Mathew Tait also again impressing at full-back, possessed too much wit and invention for a curiously leaden-footed Saracens.

Newcastle had led 15-6 at half-time but it should have been more. In terms of attacking possibilities they were the only side in it. They scored two excellent tries in that half and might have collected another if the chunky wing Tom May, gallant and capable player though he is in all other respects, had possessed more gas when put clear after a superb movement featuring some John Rudd brawn and some impossibly deft hands from the lock Andy Perry.

Lack of pace was, quite naturally, not a problem for Tait in scorching over for Newcastle's first try after three minutes. After Newcastle had stretched Saracens this way and that across the field, Tait timed his run perfectly to receive Flood's delayed pass and round his opposite number, Brent Russell, with ease. Wilkinson converted from the touchline.

Flood scored Newcastle's second, taking advantage of Fabio Ongaro's absence in the sin-bin for collapsing a maul, with a try owing much to a delicious one-handed inside offload from the blindside flanker, Brent Wilson.

And all Saracens had to show, despite Paul Gustard's industry, were two Gordon Ross penalties. It was just as well for them that Wilkinson missed two long-range penalties and the conversion of Flood's try. It was a performance which drew scathing criticism afterwards from their director of rugby, Alan Gaffney. "We had no structure, no pace and our discipline went out of the window," he said. "It was our worst performance on the track this season. I apologize to our supporters for that. I could understand if they did not come back after watching that drivel."

At least, with the introduction of Glen Jackson at fly-half, there was some second-half improvement. They certainly kept the video referee busy. Rodd Penney was denied by a brilliant tackle from Tait but not so Neil de Kock soon afterwards. But it was not enough to appease Gaffney. "Absolute tripe," he raged.

Saracens Russell; Haughton, Sorrell, Powell, Penney; Ross (Jackson, h-t), De Kock (capt); Yates, Ongaro (Kyriacou, 62), Johnston (Visagie, 67), Vyvyan, Jack, Chesney, Seymour, Gustard.

Tries De Kock, Vyvyan. Pens Ross 2, Jackson.

Sin-bin Ongaro, 20.

Newcastle Tait; May (Phillips, 75), Noon (capt), Flood, Rudd (Visser, 75); Wilkinson, Grindal (Charlton, 71); Golding (Ward, 69), Long (Thompson, 62), Hayman, Perry, Sorenson, Wilson, Woods (Williamson, 43), Parling.

Tries Tait, Flood, Noon. Cons Wilkinson 2. Pen Wilkinson.

Referee S Davey (Sussex). Attendance 17,223.