Aviva Premiership: Phil Godman wants Newcastle to be clinical

Newcastle Falcons have gone four games without crossing the whitewash and fly-half Phil Godman admits they must find a clinical edge to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle.

The Falcons picked up three wins in their opening six Aviva Premiership matches this season, but a four-game losing run since has seen them fall back into tenth.

Only London Irish and winless Worcester Warriors are worse off and the major concern for Dean Richards’ side is a collective 15 points across those four games – most recently losing 16-3 at Exeter Chiefs.

Next up is back-to-back Friday night games at Kingston Park, starting with London Wasps, and Godman is eager for the Falcons to start looking ahead rather than over their shoulders.

“At Exeter we had a few chances in that first half that we probably could have taken,” Godman said. “In the Premiership you might only get one or two chances in a game so you have to take them.

“It is an area of our game that we have got to work on and we are working hard on training.

“We picked up a couple of crucial wins early doors but recently we have not been showing that form that we are capable of.

“We realise how important this stage of the season is and we know how big these two games are. Going down to Exeter we played well and we probably should have taken a point from it at least.

“We know the situation. We know Worcester are struggling but if they get one win they will get that confidence back.

“But we need to look up the table and these two games, starting with Wasps on Friday, are a great opportunity.”

Godman returned to Kingston Park, where he started his professional career, this summer after spending eight seasons with Edinburgh and last year back in England at London Scottish.

And while much has changed since 2004, the 31-year-old is enjoying life back where it all began.

“Probably the way it looks it is all the same but some of the guys I played with are now coaching,” he joked.

“I am enjoying it. It is a bit different to when I was there ten years ago and obviously with Dean Richards at the helm, he has done a good job, and I have had a good run of late.”