Only the third umpire Simon Taufel, who had never officiated in a Test match, felt there was doubt and Slater survived.Fortunately for England Darren Lehmann, batting at five because of a hamstring injury to Steve Waugh, did not detain them long and pushing stiffly at Peter Such he was caught off the face of the bat by John Crawley at silly point.Next ball Ian Healy, pushing forward to Such, was missed by Mark Butcher at silly point. Certainly Slater, on 36 at the time, felt he was out, a view more or less confirmed by TV replay. Waugh in particular played several shots of impeccable breeding, the best being an on-drive for 4 off Headley, who later got his revenge when he had Waugh brilliantly caught by Mark Ramprakash at square-leg.England will not have felt entirely satisfied and they clearly felt they had run out Slater, after a superb pick up and throw from Headley at long- on hit the stumps direct. Since Melbourne he has come to realise that he must bowl every spell with gusto and he spent the morning flinging himself at the batsmen.But Australia, despite their recent collapses, are still a tough nut to crack and running repairs, performed by Mark Waugh and Michael Slater, were soon underway. If it looked plumb, replays showed that the ball pitched outside leg-stump.Headley, following a sketchy start in the heat of Adelaide, has improved to the point where he looks England’s most dangerous bowler. Once again there was no obvious reason for his dismissal other than that the ball was full and directed towards off-stump; which is sometimes enough when you are left-handed.Three overs later, England’s forceful start was given yet more impetus with the wicket of Justin Langer, lbw to Dean Headley Another left-hander, Langer was pinned on the back foot. In the first over of the morning Darren Gough had Mark Taylor caught at first slip.
With 228 runs at an average of 22.8, Taylor has enjoyed a moderate series.

England were convinced they had run out opener Michael Slater, but he survived the close call to reach lunch on 47 not out. So far this Test has not paused for breathe and England did not have to wait long for their first success. ANOTHER THIRD umpire controversy marred an exciting third morning in Sydney as England’s bowlers once again showed their battling qualities to bring their side back into the game. Newcastle: Tries Tuigamala, Armstrong; Conversions Wilkinson 2.London Irish: C O’Shea (capt); J Bishop, R Todd, B Venter, J Cunningham (N Woods, 76); S Bachop, K Putt; N Hatley, M Howe (R Kirke, 48), K Fullman, K Spicer, M O’Kelly, J Boer, R Gallacher (I Feaunati, 56), K Dawson.Newcastle: S Legg; J Naylor, M Shaw, R Andrew (capt), V Tuigamala; J Wilkinson, G Armstrong; G Graham, R Nesdale, M Hurter, D Weir, G Archer, P Walton, R Beattie, R Arnold.Referee: R Goodliffe (Sheffield).. And the same goes for Newcastle.London Irish: Try Bishop; Conversion Cunningham; Penalties Cunningham 3. If we can go to Franklin’s Gardens and sneak a result, then I think we will be in a fair position to say that we might fancy ourselves making an assault on this championship.” There is nothing to stop them, except themselves. But when they were good the Irish midfield were very, very good.

Good enough to run with the best of the first division.Which is what Best wants Irish to do. He knows that they have to finish in the top six or eight to stand a chance of being part of a significant competition next season, be it Europe, a British League or whatever.And he was moved enough to say: “If we win at Northampton on Tuesday, then I will say that we have arrived. True they posed problems for the defence – it was just a matter of which defence. There were times when the home side found themselves stretched. That was disappointing.”He patted the forwards on the back for their outstanding performance The backs were a different kettle of fish. Dick Best, their director of rugby, said: “I was pleased we created opportunities to score We should have put the game to bed in the first half.

They have a few firebrands now and five wins in their last seven matches since the likes of Steve Bachop and Kevin Putt joined them. “We’ll study the video and no doubt get a bollocking.” They will deserve it because there were moments in the match when the outcome could have been different.Irish blew hot Very hot at times And cold at others. We will have a long look at the video, Monday I would think.”Weir’s international colleague scrum-half, Gary Armstrong, playing with a cracked thumb but looking as sharp as ever, was more apprehensive about today’s viewing. And perhaps frustration when we dive in and give away a penalty. But we can’t blame anyone but ourselves, we have to take it on the chin.

He had just seen his side throw away numerous opportunities when just a shove away from the Exiles’ line, a careless straying over the offside line or a sudden eruption of temper; Irish were awarded a penalty which got them out of jail every time.Doddie Weir, the Scotland international lock, at least had the decency to agree with his coach and was big enough to confess: “I have to lay a personal claim to matters and say I had a problem with that as well, because I gave penalties away at silly times.”But while he was not prepared to condone what had taken place, he added: “I think it is down to over-enthusiasm. “Our indiscipline is beginning to cost us significantly,” he said. The Newcastle supporters must have realised as long as their men were prepared to risk killing the ball, hanging around offside or, worse, to mix it and generally to try the referee’s patience, then they were always on a loser.Steve Bates, the Newcastle coach, admitted his side could have won. Even when they went ahead, albeit by a point, there was a lack of conviction. An announcement is expected today, which will see Ryan heading West to join the Second Division club as player- coach.The Falcons did not so much stoop, as bow before the inevitable. Newcastle, the defending Allied Dunbar Premiership champions, failed to toe the line (offside and other) and allowed an invigorated London Irish to spirit away victory.
The chill wind that blew across Sunbury was as much down to the forlorn hope the self-styled Falcons harbour for retention of their title as it was a herald for a belated winter.They seemed as resigned to their fate as they are to losing their captain and player-coach Dean Ryan to Bristol. London Irish 16 Newcastle 14

THEY MAY be as fit as paratroopers or marines, but professional rugby players miss out when it comes to self- discipline.