This, Staffordshire Intermediate Cup game seemed to be in Walsall’s control for long periods. The pattern of the game shows that the hosts opened the scoring with a penalty after ten minutes. But the visitors put a great deal of pressure on the home defence and during the next twenty minutes, captain Roger Weston, kicked two penalties to give his team a slender lead. Ten minutes into the second half the hosts drew level after a mix up in the Walsall midfield resulted in another penalty. But it was the visitors that looked the stronger team as the looked for the breakthrough. But they had to be content with a Will Hennessey penalty and a drop goal. Hennessey took over the kicking duties after Weston had been forced to leave the field after being injured by, what seemed, a dangerous tackle. The game was into the final five minutes when Newcastle took advantage of some loose possession from a scrum. They tried to find some weaknesses in the Walsall defence. The visitors defended well, but the referee decided that Walsall players had been infringing and promptly sent two of them into the sinbin in quick succession for the same offence. The opposition looked to keep possession, which they did until they scored a try near the corner flag. The try was awarded, but a red card was shown to Walsall’s scrum half Dean Ainger. This meant that the game had to continue with a penalty to the hosts on the halfway line. They kicked to touch won and retained possession until the referee awarded them another penalty which Gross converted to win the game.
But the visitors will feel very aggrieved about the final result. As they were on their way to score three tries on three separate occasions during the first half. But the referee failed to allow sufficient advantage on all three occasions, much to the amazement of the players and the spectators. Newcastle now progress to the final which will take place at Walsall on 5th May. Meanwhile, a disgruntled Walsall squad, will have to accept that their season is over. They will now have a break until training starts again in June.