COACH Mark Laycock hailed his Sevens stars last night as Newcastle Falcons claimed their first silverware of the season.

Victories over Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie saw Newcastle win the Welford Road leg of the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens, qualifying them for the national finals in Bath on August 6.

But refusing to think too far ahead, a delighted Laycock said: “It’s silverware for the Falcons, and a positive start to the season for the whole club.

“The finals down in Bath will be a new and a different challenge, but for the time being I’m just pleased for the boys to have won tonight’s trophy and to have recorded three wins from our three games.”

With a young squad being thrown together for the competition, Laycock revealed: “The only training we did for this event was ten minutes in the car park at Leicester Forest East Services on the bus down, but the lads’ attitude was superb all night.

“We showed great character, defended well and scored some good tries, so I can have few complaints really.

“I’m sure there will be strong competition now for the finals next month, but the boys tonight have all put their hands up and it’s good to have a trophy in the cabinet already for the season.”