Newcastle Falcons fail to retain Middlesex Sevens Trophy

Newcastle Falcons fell to eventual winners Harlequins in the semi-finals of the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham on Saturday.

Quins ran out 29-14 semi-final victors as Newcastle tried to retain the trophy they had won in style last season.

Falcons assistant coach Ed Midcalf said: "Credit to Harlequins, they played excellent Sevens and were deserved winners.

"But the boys are disappointed after the success of last season."

Early tries from former Falcon Epi Taione and England wing David Strettle had put Newcastle on the back foot, before a marvellous team score saw player-coach Ollie Phillips get them back in to the game as he collected a looped pass from fly half Rob Miller.

Strettle clinched victory for the Londoners with a fine one-on-one finish, before winger Andrew Fenby touched down for the Falcons on the eve of his first-team debut against Leeds Carnegie.

The Falcons had booked their place in the last four after a 21-12 victory over Northampton in the opening round, Luke Fielden crossing for two well-taken tries as well as a clinical finish from Miller in the right corner.

London Irish were convincingly dispatched at the quarter-final stage with a massive 40-7 victory, Phillips scoring straight from the kick-off before Fenby grabbed a first-half brace and Fielden added a fourth for a 26-0 half-time lead.

A second for Phillips and an outstanding try from England Sevens international Micky Young rounded off the scoring for the Falcons, with a late consolation try from the Exiles despite Newcastle being out of reach.