Deano: We must learn to control
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 13: Dean Richards, director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons reacts during the Pre-season friendly match between Newcastle Falcons and Ealing Trailfinders on November 13, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
DEAN Richards thanked the staff at Kingston Park who worked around the clock to get the game underway, but despite Falcons getting the try-bonus point, he said his side needed to learn quickly how to control a game.
Falcons DoR said: “An ability to control the game in the first-half as we should have done, and to play correctly, would have given us five points.
“But full credit to Worcester, they had the chances and took them. We’ll be looking at our defensive frailties.
“It was always going to be a game of two-halves with the swirling wind and weather. We didn’t capitalize on it in the first-half and we’re only up by two points at half-time when it should have been 15.”
Worcester coach Jon Thomas said: “Fin Smith is only 19 but he pulled the strings superbly.
“Maybe being couped up in a hotel helped in bringing us closer together. To draw with the injuries we’ve got and with Duhan [van der Merwe] pulling out late with a sore neck, we have to give the boys a huge pat on the back.”
