Falcons boss happier

NEWCASTLE rugby director Alan Tait was far happier with his side’s performance at the Stoop than in last weekend’s thrashing by London Irish.

Tait said: ‘‘We were outstanding.

Just little things that were done by young players let us down, but they will learn fast because you get no mercy at this level.

‘‘Concentration is the key to Premiership rugby, and for spells we defended superbly and frustrated Harlequins’ best efforts.

‘‘I was surprised by the penalty try because I felt we’d been as steady as a rock all match.

‘‘Then we have an England Saxon sin-binned and are hit with seven points. It turned the game. But I am proud of this performance.’’ For all Harlequins’ possession and pressure, Newcastle threatened to pinch a win which would have made nonsense of all that had gone before.

Quins continue to concede cheap penalties and Newcastle fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked four goals.

But Quins are armed with world class former All Black Nick Evans, whose kicking prowess is a major weapon.

Evans kicked three penalties and converted the 45thminute penalty try and the match-winning strike by flanker Tom Guest.

Guest struck from closerange four minutes from time.

The hosts had led just 9-6 at the break but then came the penalty try.

Quins kept pressing, winning three penalties from scrums, which saw Falcons prop Jon Golding sin-binned, having only been on since half-time.

When a fourth scrum was crushed White awarded a penalty try, and Evans added the conversion.

Harlequins took control from the first whistle, and they were ahead after five minutes.

Despite the rain, which began to fall minutes before the match, Quins opted for a handling game, which stretched their visitors at the breakdown and left them struggling for possession.

It was evident from the first scrum that 20 year-old loosehead prop Joe Marler, who made his first Premiership start last weekend, was bossing Tim Ryan in a manner that spelled danger for Newcastle.

Quins managed to fall foul of referee Chris White on 15 minutes, infringing at the breakdown and presenting Gopperth with a penalty opportunity from 40 metres that he accepted, despite slipping during his run-up.

Gopperth remained Newcastle’s best hope of staying in touch, but at the end Quins held firm and avoided any more gifts near their posts.