Easter crowned an impressive display with a fine try

Newcastle (3) 3
Pens: Burke

Harlequins (14) 14
Tries: Strettle, Easter
Cons: Jarvis 2

Harlequins' greater power helped them pull further away from the bottom of the Premiership with victory away to Newcastle in difficult conditions.

Newcastle took the lead through a Matt Burke penalty after just two minutes.

But Quins soon gained the upper hand and tries from David Strettle and Nick Easter, both converted by Adrian Jarvis, put them 14-3 up at the break.

Neither side could add to their score after the break as Quins held the Falcons at bay with ease.

Burke edged Newcastle into an early lead before Quins spurned the chance to score the first try of the match.

They put together a flowing move, heavily featuring 18-year-old centre Jordan Turner Hall, but the final pass to Ugo Monye, who would later limp off injured, was forward.

However, Quins soon scored their first try of the evening as Strettle cashed in after John Rudd spilled his kick ahead.

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match

Jarvis' conversion put the visitors 7-3 ahead and they extended their advantage after 32 minutes when Easter burst through under the posts after another sustained attack.

Jarvis' conversion made it 14-3 and that was that as far as the scoring went as the greasy ball hampered Newcastle's attempts to spin it wide.

Harlequins had more power all round the field and their tactical kicking ensured Newcastle rarely threatened to haul the visitors back.

John Rudd kicked the ball away to halt one promising Falcons attack and they spurned a kickable penalty in a futile search for a try.

But the nearest anyone came to adding to the score was when Jarvis pushed a penalty wide for Quins midway through the half.

Newcastle captain Matt Burke:
"The conditions didn't play any part in it. We're always able to play in those types of conditions.

"We did lack direction but we're not blaming any of the new blokes in terms of that, but certainly it looked like a couple of young blokes running around a bit headless.

"I thought Harlequins played pretty well, well enough to control the game anyhow.

"Mistakes let us down - that was the disappointing part. It was a must-win in terms of the Test matches that are happening at the moment."

Harlequins boss Dean Richards:
"I don't think the performance was that great in the second half.

"We were allowed a lot of territorial advantage and we didn't really make it pay, but at the same time, yes it is about the result and I'm delighted we got the four points.

"When we needed to in the last 10 minutes, we closed the game down.

"I didn't think Newcastle looked like scoring."

Newcastle: Burke; May, M Tait, Mayerhofler, Rudd; Beasley, Grindal; Golding, Long, D Wilson, Perry, Oakes, Parling, Woods, B Wilson.
Replacements: Shaw for Mayerhofler (67), Crichton for Beasley (61), Dickson for Grindal (44), Morris for Golding (47), Thompson for Long (52), McCarthy for Oakes (41), Harris for B Wilson (52).

Harlequins: Brown; Strettle, Duffy, Turner-Hall, Monye; Jarvis, Gomarsall; Jones, Fuga, Ross, Kohn, Spanghero, Vos, Volley, Easter.
Replacements: Care for Strettle (61), Mehrtens for Turner-Hall (77), Deane for Monye (27), Richards for Fuga (69), Evans for Spanghero (70).
Not Used: Ward, Sherriff.

Att: 10,004

Referee: Chris White (RFU)