Late call-up James Stokes among try scorers as London Irish see off Newcastle
Late call-up James Stokes was among the try scorers as London Irish withstood a late comeback from Newcastle to record a 31-22 Gallagher Premiership victory at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The Exiles dominated for large spells of the entertaining clash as they recorded their second league win of the season.
The Falcons – who had only lost once in the league prior to this game – threatened an unlikely comeback from 24-8 down in the closing stages, only for the hosts to deny them even a losing bonus point with a late try.
London Irish were forced into a late change with winger Ollie Hassell-Collins being replaced in their line-up by Stokes, with Ben Loader switching to the left as a result.
Joel Hodgson ought to have opened the scoring for Newcastle with a penalty after 14 minutes, only to drag his effort to the left of the posts.
Instead, it was the Exiles who went ahead when Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy grounded the ball over the line off the back of a strong driving maul, following a line-out. Paddy Jackson added the conversion.
The hosts crafted a superb second try just short of the half-hour mark, as Jackson swapped passes with Billy Meakes before passing to the onrushing Tom Parton.
Parton’s ball outside was slightly behind Stokes, but the former Coventry man did well to gather and then finish in the corner, with Jackson converting in style from the touchline.
The Falcons managed to get off the mark before half-time when Hodgson’s brilliant long pass found Ben Stevenson all alone on the left to go over.
Although Hodgson could not convert, he did close the gap to 14-8 at the break with a penalty after Loader was penalised for holding on.
Tom Penny did not do Newcastle’s hopes of turning the game around any good, however, after he was sin-binned for a needless charge into his fellow full-back Parton five minutes into the second half.
Jackson slotted the resulting penalty before Irish seized control of the contest with another well-worked try.
Jackson’s cross-field kick picked out Stokes on the right and he fed the ball inside for Parton, who quickly sent Curtis Rona clear to score, with Jackson again adding the extras.
In the worsening conditions, Newcastle burst back into life in the final 10 minutes as Sam Stuart managed to force his way over before Philip Van Der Walt set up Gary Graham and suddenly the gap was down to 24-22 with five minutes remaining.
But London Irish finally made sure of the victory with two minutes left when replacement hooker Motu Matu’u was helped over by another driving maul to secure a try bonus point for his side.
Comments on RugbyPass
I think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments