Wonderful Walder sinks Saints

Carlos Spencer's home debut for Northampton ended in defeat against Newcastle.

Northampton 6-16 Newcastle

Guinness Premiership, Franklin's Gardens, Saturday September 17

Dave Walder overshadowed Carlos Spencer's home debut as he scored all Newcastle's points in their 16-6 victory against Northampton.

A full house at Franklin's Gardens had come to witness the first sight of 'King Carlos' as the Saints looked to carry on from where they left off in last week's success at Bath.

But, with Australian Owen Finegan prominent on his debut and Walder immaculate with the boot, the Falcons took their chances to claim their first win of the campaign and ease the pressure on coach Rob Andrew.

It didn't take Spencer too long to start showing his full repertoire of skills as a cheeky knee forward in the opening minutes lifted the crowd from their seats.

The Saints began the game at a whirlwind pace, but were unable to find a breakthrough due to their poor discipline as they gave away three penalties just short of the try line.

In contrast, the Falcons broke the deadlock through a moment of magic as Walder scored an opportunist's try that even Spencer himself would have been proud of.

The fly-half managed to get on the end of his own kick over the home side's defensive line to score as he won the race to the loose ball.

Northampton's first points came from Bruce Reihana as he converted a penalty, but the visitors managed to build up a 10-point lead at the break as Walder kicked his team into a good position.

Jamie Noon's lung-busting run from inside his own half set up the No.10 for a simple drop goal and he also added a penalty shortly before the end of the half.

Reihana recovered from two poor misses in the first 40 minutes to slot over his second penalty after the interval, but the match went on to follow a similar pattern to the first half.

Every time Northampton looked like scoring they found a way to cough up possession, with Walder's tactical kicking quickly sending them deep back into their own territory.

A second drop goal from the 27-year-old restored the 10-point difference, leaving the Saints with a mountain to climb in the closing stages.

Reihana managed set up a grandstand finish with his third penalty of the afternoon, and the hosts suddenly found some life near the end after a disappointing display for much of the second half.

Spencer attempted to lift his troops as they laid siege to the Falcons try-line, Ben Cohen twice going close on the wing as only some desperate defending kept them at bay.

However, it was too little too late for Northampton as Newcastle held out to pick up an impressive away win that should kick-start their campaign.