Booth to learn from loss

Bates full of praise for his Falcons, despite failing to score a try

Last updated: 22nd November 2009  

Booth to learn from loss

Booth: Not happy

The coaches are going to need to improve and the players themselves know what they need to do to improve. If you're not leaving every stone and rock unturned you might get taught a lesson

Toby Booth
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London Irish head coach Toby Booth has called on his coaching staff and players to improve after the 15-11 loss to Newcastle.

The Exiles lost in the Guinness Premiership for the first time since the opening day of the season despite scoring the only try of the contest.

While the blustery conditions didn't help, the home side were well below par at the Madejski Stadium, particularly in the first 40 minutes.

Although Chris Hala'ufia did cross after the break, five penalties from the boot of Jimmy Gopperth was enough to seal an away win for the in-form Falcons.

Disappointed

"I'm not best pleased, for obvious reasons. I'm disappointed by the nature of it (the defeat) - it was pretty disappointing," admitted Booth.

"This game will teach you a lesson pretty quickly if you don't pay it enough respect and I think I'm going to have a long look at what I've done this week, because I'm going to need to improve.

"The coaches are going to need to improve and the players themselves know what they need to do to improve. If you're not leaving every stone and rock unturned you might get taught a lesson.

"Newcastle were very workmanlike and grafting, they deserve some credit, but it took us 40 minutes to get our intensity and we then looked more like the side we are.

"The first 15 minutes of the second half were excellent, but it's taken us 40 minutes to get there - and that's not acceptable."

In contrast to his opposite numbers, Newcastle boss Steve Bates was delighted to record a win at a ground where his side were beaten 48-8 by Irish back in January.

"I'm really pleased for the boys, they worked hard this week on a specific game-plan and that's worked for us," he said.

"We wanted to keep in touch with the game and maybe frustrate Irish a bit. If you let them get on top they can really put their foot down, and that's what happened here last season."

Critical

While Gopperth's kicking proved enough to seal a third straight league win, the Falcons failed to capitalise on several try-scoring opportunities.

"If we're going to be critical, we could have put the game out of sight," Bates acknowledged.

"We were one pass off going under the sticks and we had an overlap and went inside. We had opportunities and we'll have to take that on.

"We've had everyone fit and prepared more thoroughly this last couple of weeks has set us up and I thought today that was pretty obvious.

"It was a really physical, quick game but we kept our shape. That's the benefit of us having time together."