Newcastle: 22 (9) Try: Penalty Con: Wilkinson Pens: Wilkinson (5) Harlequins: 21 (13) Tries: Harder, Duffy Con: Staunton Pens: Staunton (3)

Quins surged into an 18-9 lead after George Harder and Gavin Duffy crossed while Jeremy Staunton kicked two penalties and a conversion.

But two Wilkinson penalties and a penalty try put the Falcons 22-18 ahead with nine minutes remaining.

Staunton kicked another penalty on 77 minutes to set up a tense finale but the Falcons were able to hang on.

Newcastle started the game the stronger side but after the teams traded penalties, Quins scored the first try when Duffy broke through two tackles and passed inside for Harder to score.

It was a dreadful game - the officials were poor and Quins' cynical approach spoiled the game as a spectacle Newcastle boss Rob Andrew

The sides traded penalties again before Wilkinson made it 9-13 with another three points when Luke Sherriff was sin-binned after massive Falcons pressure.

Quins looked to have taken control when Duffy crossed on 41 minutes after Staunton was able to waltz through the Newcastle defence.

Newcastle piled forward again and when Simon Miall was yellow-carded for persistent offside, Wilkinson added another three points.

The game turned on 57 minutes when Falcons were awarded a penalty try when Quins killed the ball as Luke Gross went for the score.

Wilkinson's conversion and penalty put Newcastle four points ahead but his side had to play the closing stages with 14 men when Neil McCarthy was sin-binned.

Staunton reduced the deficit to one with his third penalty but pushed wide an injury-time kick which would have given Quins the win.

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew had some harsh words for Harlequins afterwards, criticising their "cynical approach".

"They had two in the sin-bin, a huge penalty count against them, a penalty try - what more evidence do you need?" he said.

"If that's the way the Premiership is going then we might as well forget about it."

Newcastle: Peel, Long, Ward, Grimes, Hamilton, McCarthy, Charvis, Sititi, Burke, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, J. Wilkinson, Charlton.
Replacements: Isaacson, Thompson, Gross, Taione, Shaw, Grindal, Walder.

Harlequins: Jones, Tiatia, Dawson, Rudzki, Miall, Sheriff, Vos, Diprose, Duffy, Monye, Harder, Reay, Keogh, Staunton, So'oialo.
Replacements: Hayter, Worsley, Winters, Horstmann, Molitika, Dunne, Williams.

Referee: Sean Davey (West Sussex)