Harlequins (10) 23
Tries: Evans 2 Cons: Evans 2 Pens: Evans 3
Newcastle (6) 14
Try: Walker Pens: Gopperth 3

Evans was in sensational form at The Stoop

Fly-half Nick Evans produced a superb individual display as he scored all of Harlequins' points against Newcastle.

The ex-All Black converted both of his tries either side of half-time and added three penalties to banish any doubts about Quins' Premiership status.

Fellow New Zealander Jimmy Gopperth hit two penalties to keep Newcastle in the hunt at 10-6 at half-time.

A 47th-minute Alex Walker try had given Newcastle a 10-11 lead, but Evans secured the win with 13 points.

The victory takes eighth-placed Quins four points clear of Newcastle, who are still involved in a relegation battle alongside Sale, Leeds and Worcester.

Newcastle had taken the lead at The Stoop when Gopperth kicked an 18th-minute penalty following a ruck offence.

However, the fly-half was sent to the sin-bin when he was penalised for persistently killing the ball, allowing Evans to level the scores in the 25th minute.

And Evans took full advantage when his fleet-footed skills punched a hole through Newcastle's weakened defence before touching down under the posts in the 32nd minute.

Gopperth returned to the field in time to reduce to arrears to four points four minutes before the break.

However, he could not add the extras when Walker finished off a fine move started by full-back Charlie Amebury in the 47th minute, a try which gave the visitors a valuable lead.

Quins reclaimed the advantage with two successive Evans penalties, but Gopperth once again put the home crowd on edge when he landed a penalty in the 62nd minute.

But their fears turned to elation when winger Tom Williams began a fine attacking move which went through five players before Evans rounded off the scoring to cap a superb personal performance.

Harlequins rugby director Conor O'Shea:

"I was disappointed that our error count let them into the game at times when we should have been in total charge.

"Fortunately, Nick Evans was absolutely outstanding and made sure we came away with the points, but the lads are disappointed with the way we performed.

"Luckily, the April Fool joke on our website - that Nick was taking a year out of the game - was a joke.

"We created some fine opportunities, but all the rain made the pitch a bit of a pudding. Then we also gave away some mindless penalties against a team playing their third game in a week.

"That victory does release a huge pressure valve because we can now think about trying to make the top six rather than worrying about being dragged down into the relegation battle.

"Our players are not bubbling over with confidence this season, so this win is huge."

Newcastle rugby director Steve Bates said:

"The loss of a bonus point so near the end is tough and I was disappointed that the game did not flow as it could have.

"When allowed to play, both teams attacked, but given that referees were supposed to be more positive at the breakdown we didn't see too much of that, and as a result players began taking the law into their own hands in that area.

"I am very proud of the players who have shown enormous character handling three games in a week.

"We created a couple of great opportunities, took one and missed one. At 16-14 it could have gone either way, so to leave with nothing is harsh.

"What has to be questioned is why are we going into the last part of the season with a new interpretation of an existing law?

"It's not a new law or a law change, it's a tightening up of a law. But why has it been done at this stage? That needs to be answered."

Harlequins: Brown; Williams, Tiesi, Turner-Hall, Monye; Evans, Care; C Jones, Cairns, Andress, Percival, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner (c), Guest.
Replacements: Brooker, Croall, Johnston, Stevenson, York, Dickson, Clegg, Lowe.

Newcastle: Amesbury; Bobo, Vickerman, Tu'ipulotu, Biggs; Gopperth, Pilgrim; Golding, Vickers, Hayman (c), Hudson, Sorenson, Williamson, Welch, Afu.
Replacements: Walker, Ovens, Shiells, Levi, Swinson, Browne, Young, Catterick.

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