Quins sink Newcastle

Four penalties from Rory Clegg proved to be the difference as Harlequins beat Newcastle 19-8 in the LV= Cup on Sunday.

Harlequins had little difficulty in overcoming a substandard Falcons side in this second round LV= Cup tie at Kingston Park with Clegg scoring fourteen of their points on returning to his old ground.

Sam Smith scored Quins' only try on the half-hour but with Clegg making the most of a glut of penalties conceded by the Falcons the visitors were always on course for their first win of the tournament.

Michael Tait crossed late on for a consolation try for the Falcons who remain winless from their opening two games.

Harlequins ran the kick-off clearance straight back through winger Josh Drauniniu and then skipper George Robson, but the Falcons looked to have survived when play was recalled for an off side and Clegg put over the penalty with exactly two minutes on the clock.

The home side used some slick lineout ball to good use in the 11th minute when they whipped it quickly across the field but Tom Biggs disappointingly knocked on.

Newcastle continued to have the better of the exchanges and an electrifying burst by winger Danny Williams took him over half way with Harlequins at sixes and sevens but again a crucial pass went down, this time by Josh Afu.

An up-and-under from Clegg got Harlequins back on the attack and when Falcon flanker Ed Williamson infringed at a ruck on the 22 the visitors fly-half had no difficulty in again slotting over the penalty to make it 6-0.

Almost immediately a similar offence near halfway gave Newcastle the chance to hit back, and Rob Miller's effort just crept over the crossbar.

The recovery was short-lived however as Harlequins full-back Ross Chisholm broke from defence, winger Smith took the pass, chipped ahead and raced through a stunned defence to touchdown with Clegg converting.

Miller had another long-range penalty effort that drifted harmlessly wide and the Falcons still trailed by 10 points at the interval.

Newcastle sparkled briefly at the start of the second period when Tom Catterick cut loose inside the visitors' 22. They moved the ball one way and then the other but inevitably the forward foray ended with a knock on.

Play was then held up for a serious neck injury to Harlequins' flanker Neil McMillan who was taken from the pitch on a stretcher, but immediately upon resumption Newcastle conceded a third penalty of the game - Clegg again taking advantage to stretch the visitors' lead to 16-3.

The same player was then well wide with a much closer attempt, but upon reverting to long distance territory comfortably found the range to make it a 16-point advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

Newcastle indiscretions were now coming thick and fast but Clegg missed again and then when Harlequins put a kick to touch, the lineout move quickly fizzled out.

With time running out for the home side they found themselves unable to break out of their own 22 and continued to concede penalties.

Clegg was wide once more with the boot however and when Harlequins elected for a scrum under the posts the ball popped out and Gcobani Bobo was able to clear for the home side.

Against all the odds and with just three minutes remaining Miller broke from defence for the Falcons, crossed halfway, and when the ball went down, replacement centre Tait scooped it up and stormed over for an unconverted try.

The Scorers

For Newcastle:
Try:Tait
Pen:Miller

For Harlquins:
Try:Smith
Con:Clegg
Pens:Clegg 4

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Josh Drauniniu, 13 George lLwe, 12 Tosh Masson, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Neil Mcmillan, 6 Chris York, 5 George Robson (c), 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Aston Croall.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Joe Marler, 18 James Johnston, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Gareth Williams, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague.

Newcastle: 15 Tom Catterick, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Spencer Davey, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Rob Miller, 9 Hall Charlton (c), 8 Josh Afu, 7 Mark Wilson, 6 Ed Williamson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Micky Ward, 2 Alex Walker, 1 Laurence Ovens.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Kieran Brookes, 18 Grant Shiells, 19 Peter Browne, 20 Will Welch, 21 Chris Pilgrim,22 Michael Tait, 23 Charlie Amesbury.

Referee: Greg Garner