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The Harlequins got off to a winning start in their Premiership title defense as an exciting game at Kingston Park saw them beat Newcastle 26-20. Both teams played fast and smooth rugby, but Quins – with Tommy Allan making his best impression of Marcus Smith to pull the strings of No.10 – was able to cross the line four times against Newcastle’s three and return to London with the five points.
In a high octane opening, the Falcons No 8 Carl Fearns were turned down after being held over the line and before that, on the other end, Andre Esterhuizen passed around the corner but his try went was refused following a forward pass from Dino Lamb.
The visitors however opened the scoring after 11 minutes; a long pass from Danny Care was almost caught by Tom Penny but it fell straight into the arms of Louis Lynagh who pointed in the corner.
Their lead was increased after 20 minutes with a second try, this time for Joe Marchant, as the powerful cross took a short pass from Allan after the opening half spotted a breach in the defensive line.
As he had done with the first try, Allan added the extras – this time using the upright – but Newcastle immediately hit back as they won the lower left restart. The hosts held the ball for several phases before a pass from Brett Connon went wide, freeing Adam Radwan who used his pace to beat Esterhuizen in the corner.
The Falcons pulled off their second try of the game with Radwan once again in the thick of things as his dazzling pace and footwork saw him dance past four helpless defenders before releasing Iwan Stephens on his running inside shoulder. from 20 meters.
Radwan thought he had another try 90 seconds into the second half, but the referee called off play for a Quins advantage earlier and the visitors went further in the 44th minute as Lynagh scored again in the corner after quick hands from Allan.
The Falcons didn’t fold though, as Sean Robinson intercepted a pass in Care’s midfield and went 20 yards before feeding Louis Schreuder, who had gas in the tank to score in the corner.
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Connon’s failed conversion meant the deficit was two points and the scoring continued just before the hour mark when Care gave his team the bonus point by deviating from the base of a ruck with Allan’s conversion taking the lead at nine points.
As the game swayed from start to finish, debutant Stephens was dragged into a five-yard throw-in when an inside pass reportedly saw Newcastle for a fourth down, but Will Haydon-Wood reversed a penalty with the clock in the red to give the Falcons a losing bonus point.
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