Gordon proud of team performance after Newcastle knockout

You wouldn’t have known Thomas Gordon was coming back from a month on the sidelines if you judged him only by his performance at Kingston Park last night.

A typically industrious performance saw the openside flanker provide a high-octane presence throughout proceedings, helping his team to a place in the last-eight of the EPCR Challenge Cup with a 27-17 victory over Newcastle Falcons.

For the man himself, the satisfaction of a job well done was written clearly across his face following the full-time whistle – along with the clear signs of the effort he’d just put in across the course of his shift in the back-row, that is.

“I was looking for a new set of lungs after 20 minutes!” quipped the flanker in the immediate aftermath of last night’s win.

“It was a really enjoyable game to be involved in as a player, for sure. I got my hands on the ball a fair bit, so I’m definitely going to feel that one tomorrow!

“That was a really good game to come back into, though. I thought we played some really good rugby tonight, and to come away with the win is exactly what we wanted.

“To do it like that, on the road and against a physical Newcastle team, that was really pleasing.”

Gordon’s return saw the former Currie man start alongside with fellow openside Rory Darge for the first time, and the pair made full use of the opportunity.

A constant threat at the breakdown and ever-present in open play, it’s a partnership that Gordon enjoys being a part of just as much as the Warrior Nation enjoy watching it.

“We’ve talked about it a fair bit, actually – when we’ve both been on the field together, we’ve won every game!” grinned Gordon.

“It was great to play alongside him. We get along really well and with us both being naturally opensides, we were able to split some of the workload between us.

“We’ve kept that winning streak for us alive, and long may it continue!”

A trip to Lyon now awaits the Warriors in the quarter-finals, but only after a massive United Rugby Championship double-header as the squad heads to South Africa for the first time since 2019.

It’s a double-header that Gordon is relishing, though, as Danny Wilson’s men get set to further their pursuit of a berth in the knockout stages of the league.

“The South African sides are a massive physical test for us,” said Gordon.

“They’ve been going really well in the league since the turn of the year, and we know it’ll be a challenge for us.

“It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to though, and we’re going out to get the job done.”

One thing is for certain, though – the Warrior Nation will be behind their team every step of the way, just as they were in Newcastle.

A superb contingent of travelling fans made the journey to Kingston Park to roar on their team, and their presence most definitely did not go unnoticed.

“The fans were sensational, honestly,” said Gordon.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone that travelled down, and I know that the boys will all echo that.

“When we were running out onto the field and seeing all the flags, it meant a lot to us and they really did the club proud.”