It was two inexperienced sides which came together this afternoon at Kingston Park but it was Harlequins who showed their strength in depth when they had little difficulty gaining their first win in the LV= Cup.

Quins were on the attack from the kick off and took the lead with just 2 minutes gone on the clock, with a 20 metre penalty from Rory Clegg. 0-3

Newcastle tried to fight back and make headway with a couple of powerful runs but a number of mistakes eased what danger there was for Quins. Quins were quick to get back on the attack and on the 22nd minute Clegg kept the scoreboard ticking over with his second successful penalty of the afternoon, after Falcons flanker, Ed Williams was penalised for being offside 0-6.

Falcons hit back just 3 minutes later after a similar offence which allowed Rob Miller to step up to the tee to cut the deficit in half, with a kick from half way that crept over the crossbar. 3-6

It was Quins who made the first real dent in the game with a try just before the half hour. Attacking deep with numbers, a long pass from Rory Clegg found the safe hands of Tom Guest and the talented number 8 broke down the left wing. Finding himself without support, Guest hacked the ball forward, which saw the start of a two man race between Quins’ Sam Smith and Falcons’ Danny Williams. Fortunately for Quins, it was academy star, Smith, who succeeded in getting his hands to the loose ball. Clegg got the conversion. 3-13.

Quins went in at half time having clearly played the better rugby and looking in control of the game. There were basic handling errors by Falcons which stopped them looking like they were going to threaten the visitors’ line and their shaky defence opened up a number of gaps for the Quins attack.

Falcons seemed to emerge from the dressing room with a little bit more verve after Tom Catterick made a break through the Quins defence to be brought down just short of the line.

There were more injury worries for Quins when play was held up after Neil McMillan received a neck injury, which saw him having to be stretchered off the pitch.

Play resumed and it was Clegg who once again stretched the away side’s lead with a penalty after Falcons were penalised for coming in at the side of a rolling maul. 3-16.

A fourth successful penalty kick from Clegg took the chance of victory firmly away from the home side and made up for the easier kick he had missed just four minutes earlier. 3-19

Newcastle were really starting to feel the pressure and the mistakes were flowing but Quins couldn’t take full advantage and turn them into points. A Quins penalty kick and scrum under the posts both went begging before, with just 3 minutes remaining on the clock, a break by Newcastle’s Rob Miller and finish by Michael Tait, saw the home side gain some credibility before the full time whistle sounded. 8-19.