On a warm and sunny September afternoon, eager fans in the stands welcomed the first home game of the season for Harlequins. The Quartered Men took away a losing bonus point from their clash with Sale Sharks last weekend. This week against Newcastle Falcons, they were hoping to come away with the full five points.
The visitors kicked off proceedings and after a passage of play where both sides attempted to settle, it was Newcastle piling on the early pressure.
Radwan broke the game line before Hawkins crossed the white wash for the first points of the game. Grayson – originally on the bench but moved to flyhalf after a warm-up injury, added the extra two points. After 6 minutes: Harlequins 0 – Newcastle 7.
Too easily the Falcons were finding gaps in the Quins’ defence. Only the referee’s whistle for a forward pass stopped the visitors re-entering the 22.
The respite was all but brief as Newcastle continued to place a foothold in the host’s territory.
Quins earned a defensive scrum 10m from their own tryline which was upgraded to a penalty. Smith found touch outside their 22 and managed to retain lineout ball, despite a strong challenge from the visitors.
Porter cleared his lines, kicking play into the Falcons’ half.
Quins, in a play straight from the training pitch, released Jibulu to cross for 5 points from a lineout; Smith adding the conversion: Harlequins 7-7 Newcastle Falcons after 16 minutes. The scores were level.
Falcons’ Radwan had to leave the pitch for a Head Injury Assessment on 17 minutes.
Newcastle earned a penalty and they found touch just inside the Quins’ half. Falcons secured lineout ball and pressed on but the hosts turned over and kicked play back. With a strong chase, Newcastle were for forced to tap down over their own tryline.
Northmore, meanwhile, required assistance from the medical team. He had to be replaced by Beard after 22 minutes for Quins.
The hosts had a good period of play, pinning Falcons in their own 22.
Quins formed a maul from a lineout and drove for the line. It collapsed just short but the ball was recycled well and Evans added his name to the scoreboard. Smith added the conversion. The hosts doubled their score: Harlequins 14 – 7 Newcastle Falcons after 24 minutes.
We then had the reversal of Falcons HIA: Radwan returned to the field of play.
On the halfway line, Harlequins were penalised for going to ground in the scrum. Newcastle found touch just outside the 22 and secured lineout ball. A loose pass sent Newcastle scrambling back before Quins earned a penalty of their own and kicked long, reaching the Falcons’ 22.
The hosts kept ball in hand but Newcastle were putting up a strong defence, before turning over possession 10m from their own tryline. Newcastle cleared their lines.
Quins passed fast and smooth from the lineout. They created space and found gaps in the defence. Halfpenny scored his first try in Harlequins’ colours. Smith added the extra two. Harlequins 21 – 7 Newcastle Falcons after 33 minutes.
Quins again found their stride and pushed play back over the halfway line following the restart. Newcastle were then penalised for going offside and Smith again found touch for an attacking lineout. The ball, however, was knocked-on handing a scrum to the visitors.
Half-time at the Twickenham Stoop: Harlequins 21 – 7 Newcastle Falcons
Quins returned to the pitch after the break looking full of confidence.
Smith placed the ball neatly inside the 22 and Newcastle box-kicked out, handing possession to the hosts.
Cleaves on the wing floated past the defence for the hosts before linking up and Porter crossed the whitewash for the bonus-point try. Converted by Smith: Harlequins 28-7 Newcastle Falcons after 42 minutes.
Penalty awarded to Harlequins and Smith placed his kick beautifully to find touch deep inside the 22.
Play was halted as the referees reviewed a dangerous collision against the hosts; Newcastle’s Obatoyinbo was shown yellow and play resumed with the attacking line-out for the hosts.
They secured lineout ball and passed it from one wing to the other but struggling each time to make forward momentum. That was until a long pass reached the hands of Cleaves who brought play closer to the tryline.
Newcastle, however, turned over possession and kicked long for a chase. Quins reached the ball first and eventually it went into touch to allow both sides some breathing space.
Quins secured the lineout just inside the Falcons’ half but a knock-on under tackle prevented another score for the hosts. While this play was in motion, there was a hamstring concern for Cleaves who was replaced by Jarrod Evans after 51 minutes.
More replacements for Quins as Launchbury and Lamositele were replaced by Kerrod and Herbst (53mins).
Newcastle earned a penalty following a collapsed scrum inside the Quins’ half but they failed to find touch and instead kicked too long into the dead zone.
Quins took the opportunity given to them and brought play back into the visiting 22.
Newcastle made some replacements of their own and their fallback returned having served his sin-bin (56mins).
Falcons were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch, this time sending the ball so high it flew over the stadium roof. Play resumed and Quins stole possession but struggled to get through the ever-tightening defence. A knock-on handed the visitors a scrum.
They made strides towards the corner but the hosts regained the ball and Smith kicked long, putting pressure on the opposition fallback.
Despite the fact he was surrounded by Quins players, it was Newcastle who were awarded a penalty. They were only too keen to clear their lines.
Baxter off, Wyn Jones making his debut for Harlequins (62mins).
Newcastle forced play into the hosts’ 22 before Redshaw was passed the ball on a sprint and crossed the whitewash for the Falcons. Converted by Grayson. Harlequins 28 – 14 Newcastle Falcons after 65 minutes.
Harlequins replacements: Cunningham-Smith off, Lamb on (65mins).
Newcastle were penalised for not rolling away just inside their own half but Smith was unable to capitalise, slicing the ball into touch. Halfpenny, however, still found a way through and touched down but the try was disallowed; Newcastle being awarded a penalty for obstruction (69mins).
The visitors linked up well and were finding ground easily. They made their way up to the 22 and over the whitewash before play was halted for the Television Match Official to check the try and a possible dangerous tackle by Harlequins. The dangerous tackle was unproven and the try disallowed with a penalty to the hosts; Newcastle penalised for holding on.
Play was pushed back into the Falcons’ half. Quins stole possession and a kick-chase bobbled close to the touchline, crossing just too soon. Newcastle had lineout ball and attempted to run from deep. They were forced to kick into touch and the hosts played quickly but were soon engulfed by the Newcastle defence.
Quins were then forced to kick and the ball was gathered well by the visitors. A knock-on in open play handed a scrum to the hosts.
On receiving the ball, Smith made an arching run before offloading to Halfpenny. He was engulfed on the near wing and Care knocked-on in his haste to gather the ball. Newcastle secured the scrum and kicked long, allowing Quins to run it back again. The hosts gathered momentum but the Falcons stole possession and rushed a kick into touch.
A game of aerial play ensued, each side going for territory. Newcastle eventually settled for ball in hand but lost possession; a race was on for the ball and Halfpenny was beaten to it; Newcastle opting to gather and run into touch to end the game.
Full Time at the Twickenham Stoop: Harlequins 28 – 14 Newcastle Falcons
A bonus-point win for Harlequins; Will Evans named Player of the Match and next week they travel to Northampton Saints.
Harlequins
15 Halfpenny, Leigh; 14 David, Nick; 13 Northmore, Luke; 12 Anyanwu, Lennox; 11 Cleaves, Cassius; 10 Smith, Marcus; 9 Porter, Will; 1 Baxter, Fin; 2 Jibulu, Nathan; 3 Lamositele, Titi; 4 Launchbury, Joe; 5 Lewies, Stephan (c); 6 Kenningham, Jack; 7 Evans, Will; 8 Cunningham-South, Chandler
Impact Player
16 Walker, Jack; 17 Jones, Wyn; 18 Kerrod, Simon; 19 Herbst, Irne; 20 Lamb, Dino; 21 Care, Danny; 22 Evans, Jarrod; 23 Beard, Oscar
Newcastle Falcons
15 Obatoyinbo, Elliott; 14 Radwan, Adam; 13 Doherty, Connor; 12 Arnold, Sammy; 11 Stevenson, Ben; 10 Connon, Brett; 9 Stuart, Sam (100th cap); 1 Brocklebank, Adam; 2 Blamire, Jamie; 3 Palframan, Richard; 4 Hawkins, John; 5 McDonald, Kiran; 6 Van Der Walt, Philip; 7 Gordon, Tom; 8 Chick, Callum (c)
Impact Players
16 Fletcher, Ollie’ 17 De Bruin, Luan; 18 McCallum, Murray; 19 Lockwood, Freddie; 20 Scott, Adam; 21 Davis, Joe; 22 Redshaw, Ben; 23 Grayson, Ethan
