Newcastle 32-17 Harlequins

Liam Botham had a hand in two Falcons tries

Newcastle recorded their first league win since October with a confidence-boosting four-try display against Harlequins.

The Falcons remain bottom of the Zurich Premiership but closed to within two points of Bath through a committed performance in a high-pressure situation.

Against a Harlequins team without an away Premiership victory to their name this season, Newcastle simply had to win.

And they did so with something to spare, with back-rowers Epi Taione and Andrew Mower standing out in attack and defence.

Newcastle trailed for only a matter of seconds after gifting Tani Fuga a first-half try and stormed clear with tries of their own from Stuart Grimes, Hugh Vyvyan, Jamie Noon and Michael Stephenson.

We were sharp, focussed and hungry. There's a lot to build on and if we get a regular side out we'll improve. Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew

Two early penalties by Jonny Wilkinson sandwiching one from Harlequins' Paul Burke looked to have calmed the Falcons' understandable nerves.

But with the half-hour approaching they conceded the sort of try that a lesser side down on their luck might consider a sign that the fates are against them.

Match facts

Newcastle 32 Tries: Grimes, Vyvyan, Noon, Stephenson Cons: J Wilkinson (3) Pens: J Wilkinson (2) Harlequins 17 Tries: Fuga (2) Cons: Burke, Williams Pens: Burke

With the hosts looking to attack, Mark Mayerholfer delayed his kick, Fuga charged down and ran in the try from 30 metres for Burke to convert.

However, Newcastle took a deep breath and hit back direct from the restart.

The Falcons forwards turned over possession and Botham's slick dummy allowed him to break the defensive line and slip a scoring inside pass to Grimes.

Wilkinson, playing his first Premiership game after more than two months out injured, converted to give his side a 13-10 half-time lead.

And the England stand-off repeated the trick six minutes into the second period after an enterprising Newcastle start was rewarded by an early try.

We weren't nearly intense enough - Newcastle took advantage and we got our asses kicked. Quins chief executive Mark Evans

Again, Botham was involved, coming off his wing to break down the left and set up Nick Makin 10 yards out.

The hooker slipped and was halted but Hugh Vyvyan was on hand to crash over the line.

Newcastle now had the rare scent of victory in their nostrils and extended their lead to 17 points with a superb solo try from Noon just before the hour.

The centre took Wilkinson's pass deep in his own half, shimmied through the Quins defence and hared off downfield, exchanging passes with Vyvyan before outstripping the cover to score on the left.

The visitors showed few signs of getting back into the game and Newcastle eventually grabbed a potentially vital bonus point when Mark Mayerhofler sent in Stephenson for the fourth try.

The Falcons eased up into injury-time and Fuga rounded off a spell of Quins pressure to close the gap with his second try of the afternoon.

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Newcastle: Shaw; Botham, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson; J Wilkinson, Grindal; Peel, Makin, Hurter, Andrews, Grimes, Taione, Mower, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Charlton, M Wilkinson, May, Ward, Hamilton, Thompson, Otuvaka.

Harlequins: Williams; Moore, Greenwood, Satala, Luger; Burke, Bemand; Leonard, Fuga, Dawson, Davison, Codling, Tiatia, Vos, Diprose.
Replacements: Starr, Evans, Miall, Sheriff, Powell, Jewell, Bell.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU)