Final Score: Newcastle Falcons 9 Harlequins 35

NEWCASTLE failed to score a try for their third Aviva Premiership match running as they slumped to the same amount of successive losses with defeat against Harlequins.

In Director of Rugby Dean Richards’ first game against Quins since leaving them in 2009, Newcastle scored just three penalties, all slotted by fly half Phil Godman.

But that was never going to be enough as Quins ran in four tries – Sam Smith with a double – while Nick Evans kicked 15 points.

Defeat means Newcastle have not won or scored in three Premiership games following their 40-3 defeat to Saracens and the 18-0 loss to Northampton last week.

Tom Williams, the winger involved in the Bloodgate scandal which earned Richards his ban, gave Quins the lead on nine minutes.

Evans drew the Newcastle defence towards him before putting Dave Ward through a gap and, with Williams on his shoulder, the hooker provided the pass for an easy try under the posts.

The Falcons were given an opportunity to get on the scoreboard after 18 minutes when Matt Hopper was caught offside and Godman was successful with the resulting penalty.

However, when Newcastle were guilty of the same offence with Harlequins probing in their 22 from their very next attack, Evans immediately restored his side’s sevenpoint lead.

With Harlequins bossing the scrums, the visitors were awarded another penalty when Carlo Del Fava blocked the run of Smith and Evans was again on target for 13-3.

His opposite number Godman couldn’t respond when Joe Trayfoot was guilty of pulling legs away in a maul on the half-hour mark.

But just a minute later the Scot nailed a straight kick from just inside the Harlequins half as Newcastle went in at the break trailing 13-6.

Harlequins had the ideal start to the second half when they collected their own kickoff and went on to score through Smith in the corner.

After getting the ball back a smart offload from Tom Casson found Evans, who made a break and offloaded to Ward.

After quick ball it was Smith who was able to dive over.

A powerful driving maul gave Newcastle their best opportunity of finding the Harlequins try-line on 44 minutes.

They knocked on out wide, but Godman was successful with a penalty.

Quins were able to keep the Falcons at arm’s length as Evans slotted another penalty two minutes later.

Then scrum half Danny Care went over for Quins’ third moments later.

He threw one of his trademark dummies just a few metres from the try-line and dived over under the posts – Evans converting for 28-9.

Quins then secured their bonus point as Smith did grab his second try, Casson doing brilliantly to turn the ball over before the wing went through a gap to run 60 metres and score.

Falcons front row man Rob Vickers was sent to the sin bin for an infringement at the line-out and Harlequins were able to see out the remaining ten minutes for their first win at Kingston Park for seven years.

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