THE sun shone, more than 7,000 packed expectantly into the stadium and there was a great deal of razzmatazz. But the Falcons fell flat yesterday, despite a rousing fightback after half-time.

A controversial penalty try awarded by referee Steve Lander proved crucial, but the Falcons should still have won after clawing back from 20-3 down at half-time to draw level within 15 minutes.

It threatened to be a microcosm of last season for Newcastle - poor in the first half, good in the second. But whereas they pulled off the great escape last year this time they gave it away.

The decisive try came with ten minutes of normal time left after replacement scrum half Hall Charlton made a speedy break which could have brought a try for the Falcons had he not found himself isolated.

Instead Saracens cleared, full back Joe Shaw unwisely shipped a long pass to Epi Taione and the Tongan was caught 40 metres out. Saracens flipped the ball up to right winger Richard Haughton, who found himself with a clear run to the line.

It is often said that a rugby team needs a strong spine, of which hooker, scrum half and full back are essential elements. But these were Newcastle's weaknesses.

Hooker Nick Makin twice had to be replaced by young Will Kay while having a head injury attended to, but whoever was throwing in Newcastle could not be sure of securing their line-out ball.

Two years ago there were high hopes that Charlton could fill the massive gap left by Gary Armstrong, but now former Leicester player James Grindal is preferred and he did little to justify that prior to being replaced midway through the second half.

It seemed initially that Lander had awarded the penalty try which put Saracens 20-3 ahead because Shaw had taken out visiting fly half Andy Goode following a chip ahead just outside the 22.

But it transpired that at the subsequent line-out Michael Stephenson stood within five metres and knocked the ball down as Saracens tried to take the throw-in.

Newcastle's Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, avoided controversy by saying: "If the referee thinks a try would have been scored we have to accept that.

"It has been a hugely disappointing first day and we have to reflect on why we got into that position in the first half.

"The problem was at the breakdown.

"We knew they would attack the ball there and we did not get enough support to the ball carrier, allowing them to turn the ball over far too many times.

"We did fantastically well to haul ourselves back from the dead.

"In the first 20 minutes of the second half we were the only team in it, but we didn't have the nous to finish it off.

"We gifted them all three of their tries, and the Premiership is far too tight to gift people anything."

There was much pre-match noise of the pop music and drumbeating variety and the Falcons made such an energetic start it was clear the pace could not last.

But they could not break down a superbly-organised defence, with Saracens closing down all the space the Falcons tried to exploit.

David Walder pushed a 40-metre penalty wide of the right upright after two minutes and also had two chances to put the Falcons in front at 20-20.

First he had a drop goal attempt charged down then pulled a 48-metre penalty just wide, and there was an argument for going for goal when a penalty was awarded in a very kickable position three minutes from time.

But Newcastle went for the corner and failed to win the ball at the line-out.

Walder did give Newcastle a tenth minute lead with a 30-metre penalty, but two minutes later Saracens moved the ball to the right wing and switched it back for centre Paul Bailey to score.

A break by centre Tom May almost produced a try for Newcastle, but new winger Ben Gollings was tackled into touch just short.

They then pinched the ball at the back of the line-out but Shaw knocked on in a promising position.

Goode kicked a penalty then added a drop goal after Grindal knocked on.

Another Newcastle attack broke down and Saracens attacked from deep in their own half to set up the position which brought the penalty try.

The Falcons sent on prop Ian Peel for Marius Hurter at half-time and scored after five minutes. They had obviously decided to involve powerhouse flanker Epi Taione as much as possible and he made ground from a quick penalty on his own 22 before a forward drive took them almost to the line. When the ball came back lively centre Jamie Noon was stopped just short and Grindal burrowed over.

A drive following a line-out take by skipper Mark Andrews led to a drop goal by Walder, then he levelled the scores with his second conversion after the best try of the match.

After slick handling up the right, the forwards drove on and when the ball was moved left No 8 Hugh Vyvyan went for a gap before slipping the ball inside for flanker Warren Britz to score.

It seemed Newcastle must win, but they could find no way back after giving away another soft try

Result: Newcastle Falcons 20, Saracens 25.