The Walsall players and management will be relived that the team finally secured a league win after three successive defeats. They fielded a team that showed enforced changes because of unavailability with JB Luczak being forced to move into the second row and Hal Gozukucuk taking over at No8. Coach, Jon Ford, moved into the centre to play only his second game of the season. The constant rain had made the Delves Road pitch very wet and muddy, and this contributed to a game that involved very few moments of free flowing rugby.
The testing conditions were evident from the first kick as the hosts knocked the ball on and this resulted in immediate pressure from the Newcastle pack. The visitors drove forward and were awarded a penalty that full back Gross put over from twenty five meters. The home pack soon began to take control of the game. But a combination of the conditions and some poor decision making by the players resulted in very slow progress. Eventually they were awarded a penalty, but Weston was just off target. Centre Angell nearly unlocked the Newcastle defence with a fine break. Scrum half Ainger was in support. He, however, was stopped just short of the line. The ensuing scrum saw the Walsall pack surge forward, No8 Hal Gozukucuk scooped up the ball and dived over the line for a try which Weston converted. Another fifteen minutes of play saw both teams work hard to retain possession, but with few scoring opportunities being created.
The second period saw Walsall show far more purpose in their play, but still preferred to use their forward power to make progress. Benson, Luczak, Weaver, James and Gozukucuk consistently made good ground. Midway through the half the pressure resulted in another penalty which Weston despatched from twenty five meters. The final ten minutes saw both teams produce their best attacking plays. It was the hosts that gained the vital score during this period. Good forward drives took play over the half way line, then the ball was moved through the hands and reached Angell. The Walsall centre made a powerful burst before finding support. A quick exchange of passes with Mitch Carless gave Angell the space to link with Jack Crowhurst. The winger, who had only touched the ball once during the previous seventy five minutes, raced down the touchline for a try near the corner flag. Walsall were again on the attack immediately from the restart. But Newcastle, hit back and deserved the losing league point as they covered eighty yards to score a fine try. It was a moment of embarrassment for several of the Walsall players as some feeble attempted tackles eventually resulted in centre Dan Jones going over for the try.
It was only a minute later that the referee brought the game to an end and thirty mud splattered players trudged off the Delves Road pitch.