Newcastle Falcons coach Steve Bates has refused to criticise fly-half Rory Clegg after his error in Sunday's 16-16 draw with Worcester at Kingston Park.
Clegg, 18, slipped near the Falcons line allowing Worcester to score but Bates preferred to concentrate on the positives of the teenager's display.
"It's not the ideal situation for him to play," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"But the young players are doing a lot of good things and you have to take the rough with the smooth."
The draw extends Falcons run of Premiership games without a win back to September with the win at home to Bristol.
However, Bates is unruffled by the unwanted record and feels the Falcons showed their mettle and talent in Saturday's game.
"We'll go to London Irish next week thinking we can win," he said.
"What our guys need to start doing is believing in themselves a bit more.
"At Leicester last week and Worcester today we have shown that we can compete at this level.
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