NEWCASTLE FALCONS boss Dean Richards will stick with his policy of playing young English players in this season’s European Challenge Cup after praising his side’s efforts in Friday night’s comprehensive 43-19 win over Bucharest Wolves.

Falcons ran in seven tries as they hammered their Romanian opponents at Kingston Park, with the four-try bonus point wrapped up inside the opening half hour.

With a number of Falcons’ senior stars not even registered for this season’s Challenge Cup, Richards fielded a host of academy products in the opening game.

Tom Penny marked his debut with a first-half brace, teenage lock Will Witty powered over for a try and hooker David Nelson claimed a score of his own after coming off the bench, and Richards will name a similarly youthful line-up when Newcastle return to continental competition against Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday.

“We had four lads making their first starts, a lot of young boys, and I thought they acquitted themselves well,” said Richards. “It was great to see Chris Harris and Tom Penny playing as well as they did in the centres, both making their starting debuts and both scoring tries.

“Rory Clegg at fly-half went well, and I thought Warren Fury at scrum-half was exceptional. It does give you selection headaches.

“A young lad like Will Witty showed exceptional work rate and deserved his try, and there were a lot of good performances which all bodes well for the future.”

While Falcons scored six tries in a one-sided first half, they were outscored by two tries to one after the interval, and if there was any source of disappointment against a limited Bucharest line-up, it was the manner in which Newcastle eased up after the break rather than looking to extend their advantage.

“We had the bonus point sewn up before half-time, and that was key,” said Richards. “We probably misdirected our focus during the second half and let them back in a bit, but overall it was a positive exercise.”