Sorenson is proud of the forwards' progress at Newcastle

Newcastle lock Mark Sorenson believes the Falcons pack deserves credit for their contribution as an attacking presence this season.

Falcons have scored just 11 Premiership tries this season, with four of those coming from the forwards and Sorenson is bullish about their efforts.

"It's going pretty well and we work hard at it," he told BBC Newcastle.

"Everyone knows what they're doing, we've got a good system in scrum and line-out and it's pretty efficient."

Despite the exploits of the Falcons forwards, director of rugby Steve Bates has dangerous backs within his squad, notably Tongan centre Tane Tu'ipulotu, who has adjusted well to the English game following his move from Super 14 side Hurricanes in late 2008.

However despite the creativity within the back division with players such as Jimmy Gopperth, Danny Williams and the flourishing Micky Young, Tu'ipulotu attributes the state of the playing surfaces during the winter period for a more forwards-based brand of rugby.

"I guess some of it is down to the conditions we are playing in, it's just too hard to try to attack on grounds where the defence will just catch you out because you can't move away from them as easily as you can on a faster track, where you'd beat defences easily.

"The easiest thing is to put the ball to the front, and let our forwards compete for it, which they do pretty well."

Falcons travel to Worcester in the Guinness Premiership on Friday, 26 February.

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