Falcons hit rock bottom after defeat

NEWCASTLE Falcons now face a real battle for Premiership survival after their 38-17 loss to Harlequins at Kingston Park.

The Tynesiders are rooted to the foot of the table and four points adrift of Worcester immediately above them.

Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards (below) said: “We have a huge amount of injuries, especially in the forwards, and we are missing a lot of experience.

“In recent game we have been creating chances and just not taking them - but the boys just did not turn up here.

“We gifted Harlequins the first three tries and we were chasing the game after that.

“Their first try came round the front of the line-out and we practised defending that all week in training - and then someone steps into the wrong place.

“Then we gave up two knock-on interceptions and we are three tries down.

“It could have been different had the boys been switched on. “We talked about it at half-time and then we conceded another try in the first few minutes.

“We made a bit of a comeback then but it was too late - what happened in the first 15-20 minutes was key to the game.”

Harlequins’ coach Paul Gustard was delighted to see his side help Mike Brown celebrate his recordbreaking 308th appearance for the club with a clinical victory.

Brown was not among Quins’ five try scorers at Kingston Park but played his part to the full as the visitors moved up to third in the Gallagher Premiership.

No player has represented Quins more times than the England full-back and Gustard believes the performance on Tyneside was the perfect way to mark the occasion.

The Quins’ head of rugby said: “To play 308 games at one club is an unbelievable achievement.

“To break a 35-year-old record is incredible and on top of that he has 70 caps for his country.

“Mike had a great day and we were really pleased we were able to give him a win in what was his 308th game.”