MATCH REPORT (BY THE CLOCK):
Kickoff:  Saints running into gusty wind.
1-19 min: Tight exchange early on with Newcastle getting the better of field position. But their halves, Wynne and Kurt Gidley not taking full advantage of the wind. Saints defending well.
19-20 min: Lance Thompson leaves field with twisted knee after Parsons goes over the top in heavy tackle. It is a medial ligament strain and he is out for the match and will miss at 2 more matches.
Saints get first penalty of match after Wynne throws ball away. Riddell misses penalty goal attempt but kicks the ball dead.
21 min: Try Ward. the 31 year old veteran front rower shows all the skills . He ignores an overlap and throws a dummy, and then dummies again after putting on a good left foot side step. This comes from Barrett keeping the ball alive from 10m out and sending a pass to Riddell who then passed to Ward, the try scorer. Conversion Riddell. Saints 6-0
25 min: Try J. Bailey. Controversy as try scorer drops head and looks offside but try is given. Conversion Abraham. 6-all
30 min: Break O'Davis. Ball is knocked on and Newcastle player, M. Gidley is offside but knock is played.
32 min: Break McGregor. Doesn't pass to unmarked Ainscough.
34 min: Parsons leaves field with injured sternum.
38 min: Try Ainscough. A poor cross field pass from K. Gidley ends up with Barrett and then Ainscough who scores out wide in his 226th First Grade game. Ainscough is sporting a nice shiner from an earlier incident. Conversion attempt from Bartrim misses. Saints 10-6
HALFTIME: Newcastle wasted their opportunities with a strong wind at their backs. saints could have been further in front if goal kicking was better (1 from 3 attempts).  Both Barrett and Ryles are played a top notch first 40 minutes. Saints 10-6
40 min: Penalty Saints. Knights not getting off player and Saints get an immediate advantage.
42 min: Try Roberts. Saints running on last from 30 metres out. Conversion attempt within his range but Bartrim misses in the gusty conditions. Saints 14-6
44 min: Break K. Gidley. The kid has a good step!
46 min: Barrett kicks out on full, 30 metres out from Saints' line.
51 min: Try Roberts. Set move with decoy runners out wide. 40 metres out: Pass -> Hooper -> Roberts who is running behind the decoys and ends up on the wing unmarked. Steps around fullback O'Davis and crosses tryline. He then IMPROVES his position and makes for an easy conversion. Conversion Bartrim. Saints 20-6
59 min: Try Gasnier. Beats Gidley and Gidley. From 20 metres out, terrible defence. Gaz side steps around Bailey in the in goal and IMPROVES position. Conversion Bartrim. Saints 26-6
66 min: Try Abraham. Conversion Abraham. Saints 26-12
67-72 min: Sustained attack from Newcastle. Saints hold their line.
72 min: Break Ryles. Hooper forces MacDougall into the in-goal.
75 min: Try Hooper. From 15m out. Off a short Barrett pass. Conversion Bartrim. Saints 32-12
77 min: Try Stapleton. Barrett chip kick. ->regather by Blacklock ->Stapleton. Conversion Bartrim. Saints 38-12
FULLTIME: SAINTS 38 - NEWCASTLE 12

Click here for SOTV 2001 best player tally

SORRY, NO SOUND FILE THIS WEEK

James Wynne about to kick bit his best mate, Jason Hooper ankle taps him.	...with good results
Wardy bursts through the line.	..and scores!
Paul McGregor in the clear.	Jason Ryles offloading close to the line.
Jamie Ainscough	Try scorer, Jamie Ainscough sporting a shiner.
Thommo injured. Unable to continue.	Half time and Brownie talks with Barrett.
Amos calling for the ball	Amos Roberts scores
Gasnier breaks through. He leaves a a trail of defenders on the turf and Riddell is leaping for joy. (The top right of the image shows the tryline)	Mark Gasnier scores while a confused Julian Bailey ponders the situation. Gasnier had just stood him up with a wonderful side step in the Newcastle in-goal.

Mark Riddell... left foot boot

High five from Barrett following a 40 metre gain

It was a great kick mate

Ryles makes a bust	Jason Ryles in the clear, looks to offload
Jason Hooper forces Adam MacDougall back onto his tryline	It took Adam MacDougall 72 minutes to get into this state of disbelief.
Barrett puts Hooper into a gap	Hooper bursts through
Punching the air	Jason Hooper scores the final try of the match

In a weird twist, we have now discovered that he dislikes Newcastle almost as much. This match must have been something of a dilemma for Bill. Newcastle supporters also have reason to complain. Out of the various refereeing errors such as missed knock ons, forward passes and offside play, Bill definitely used the swings and roundabouts in his decision making. First he would favour one team and then the other. It was mess of indecision. Bill's attempt to even up the penalty count by giving Newcastle a few favourable decisions late in the match was evidence of this.