Tait survives scare after horror tackle ends his part in defeat

9:43am Monday 31st March 2008

Harlequins 15 Newcastle Falcons 9

HARLEQUINS director of rugby Dean Richards refused to criticise centre De Wet Barry after his second-half horror tackle on Mathew Tait saw the South African red-carded in the 15-9 win over Newcastle.

The game stopped for several minutes as paramedics gave Tait oxygen, before the England centre was helped from the field. He was clearly dazed but was later said to be fine by Falcons acting boss Steve Bates.

They will be making further checks today, however, ahead of Saturday nights European Challenge Cup quarter-final at home to Castres.

Four penalties from the boot of Adrian Jarvis and an opportunist drop goal from England hopeful Danny Care handed Quins a sixth win in seven attempts and saw Richards men cement their Guinness Premiership play-off charge.

Richards urged England boss Brian Ashton to cap scrum-half Care on this summers tour to New Zealand.

De Wet has apologised to Mathew and he has apologised to me, said Richards. He has an unfair reputation as a dirty player and he doesnt deserve it.

If three scrum-halves go on tour to New Zealand this summer than Danny Care should be one of them. What the management have to consider is when is the best time in a players development to cap them in New Zealand C its a heck of a place to win your first cap.

With England star Nick Easter returning to the Quins backrow, they never looked like surrendering crucial Premiership points.

Newcastle came out in determined mood to end their fourgame losing streak and took an early lead thanks to a penalty by Jonny Wilkinson.

But the impressive start quickly evaporated as Jordan Turner- Hall recovered the kick-off and hands in the ruck allowed Jarvis to level the scores.

After 17 minutes Care demonstrated his new-found confidence by landing an opportunist drop goal after Newcastle had surrendered possession at a line-out.

Jarvis made amends for his earlier miss by slotting his second penalty of the game, before Wilkinson reduced Newcastles arrears with a long-range effort after Quins had infringed at the breakdown.

With the half-time hooter ready to sound referee Martin Fox penalised Newcastle for straying off-side and Jarvis extended Quins lead to 12-6 at the break.

In a dull second half the game petered out following the red card for Barry.

Wilkinson kicked the penalty but prior Barrys late tackle Harlequins had been in total control and had added to their lead through the boot of Jarvis.

Bates slammed inexperienced referee Fox, blaming him for his sides loss.

He said: The difference between winning and losing was the referees decisions.

I thought there were inconsistencies that didnt help us.

We also ran into touch three times under no pressure and didnt take advantage of them going down to 14 men.

As for the Tait incident, I didnt see the tackle as it was that late but weve managed to have a look at him and Mathew is fine.

ö London Irish boss Brian Smith insists that victory will be the best revenge for the horrific injury suffered by Kieran Roche when they entertain French side Perpignan in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next weekend.

Irish ended a three-match losing run with a 28-8 Guinness Premiership home victory over Bristol, but thoughts are already turning to the cup.

Perpignans England prop Perry Freshwater was banned for four weeks after Roche suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye socket, which left him temporarily blinded, in the group match in France between the two clubs in December.

Irish, who had beaten Perpignan 24-16 at their home ground in Reading the previous week, lost the return 23-6 and director of rugby Smith said: We will get our own back if we win the match. Thats all Kieran wants.

Perpignan have made no secret in the last month that they have gone back to old school knock em down, drag em out tactics.

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