Harlequins suffered their first Guinness Premiership defeat of the season, losing out to Newcastle Falcons by 19-12 at Kingston Park. The home side won the try count 3-0 as the visitors were restricted to four penalties from Chris Malone that gave them a losing bonus point. Former Australian international Matthew Burke was man-of-the-match for the Falcons, with his try 14 minutes from time proving to be the decisive score.
It was Quins who broke the dead lock after three minutes, with Malone converting his opening penalty from in front of the posts. The Quins fly half then doubled the visitor's advantage at the start of the second quarter with a second penalty, despite having Jim Evans in the sin-bin for a dangerous challenge on Burke.
Despite being six points ahead, Quins would pay for not making more of the possession and territory they had in the opening 20 minutes. Eight minutes before the break and the hosts scored their first points in the match. From a lineout in the Quins twenty-two, the Falcons pack drove play forward that resulted in flanker Geoff Parling forcing his way over from close range.
Burke converted and was then called into kicking action again just two minutes later. Mike Brown failed to gather a box kick from Newcastle scrum half Lee Dickson, with the loose ball being gathered by winger Tom May who raced away from Paul Volley to score in the corner. Burke once again added the two extra points from close to the touchline and give the home side an eight point lead (14-6) at the halfway stage.
Quins enjoyed the better of the third quarter and two further penalties from Malone, after 44 and 54 minutes respectively, cut the deficit to just two points (14-12) with the final quarter left to play. However, an excellent team try from the home side on 66 minutes proved crucial in deciding the outcome.
Fly half Steve Jones made the initial break from deep in his own half, before back row forwards Russell Winter and Phil Dowson carried the move up to the Quins twenty-two. With quick ball materialising, Burke came into the line and dived over in the corner for the five points. The Newcastle full back missed the conversion, meaning just seven points separated the two sides on the scoreboard (19-12).
In the time that remained, Quins worked hard to try and claim an equalising score but their efforts were consistently thwarted by the Newcastle defence, who held-on to claim the four points.
Final score, 19-12.
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