Inspired Harlequins leave Falcons for Brown bread
MIKE BROWN made Harlequins history as Newcastle were left staring at the dismal prospect of a relegation dogfight – if they were not already.
Paul Gustard’s men outclassed the Falcons comprehensively and had the bonus point sewn up by half-time on a day when Brown was centre stage.
The long-serving fullback, overlooked by Eddie Jones during England’s Autumn internationals, made his 308th appearance for Quins, breaking the previous record set by Grahame Murray in 1973.
The 33-year-old, who still harbours hopes of adding to his 72 caps, was among several visiting players to catch the eye on an awful afternoon for Newcastle.
“To play 308 games at one club is an unbelievable achievement and Mike must also be the most capped England full-back of all time,” said Quins head of rugby Gustard.
“That just shows you his resilience, tenacity and skill. In terms of England, I back all my players to be involved – Mike Brown, Danny Care, Jack Clifford, Alex Dombrandt, Kyle Sinckler, Joe Marchant and Nathan Earle.”
Newcastle are currently nursing a lengthy injury list and their error-strewn display was punished by an effervescent Quins side dripping with ideas and creativity.
Falcons’ spirits never sagged and they fashioned two second-half tries from wing Vereniki Goneva and No.8 Callum Chick.
Overall, though, and certainly for the first 40, this was a horrible afternoon for a club who enjoyed their best season for 16 years last term, finishing fourth to reach the play-offs.
They now remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership table and further adrift of safety after Worcester’s dramatic win over Bath.
It took just four minutes for the visitors to lead as hooker Max Crumpton collected possession from a lineout and sauntered over the line unopposed in the right corner.
Newcastle got off the mark with a penalty from Brett Connon before shooting themselves in the foot in the 16th minute.
On the edge of Quins’ 22, Josh Matavesi’s careless pass was plucked out of the air by Earle, who galloped clear for an exhilarating 80metre score.
A third try arrived in the 35th minute when Chick denied Marchant a certain try in the left corner before the ball was worked across the face of the Newcastle defence where Gabriel Ibitoye dived over the line.
The bonus point arrived in the 40th minute when Marcus Smith drove at the heart of the Newcastle defence inside the left channel, finding Ibitoye whose audacious offload ushered No.8 Clifford over from close range.
It was 28-3 in Harlequins’ favour at the break and, five minutes into the second half Dombrandt, who excelled at blindside for the visitors, was driven over.
Newcastle refused to throw in the towel and Goneva touched down in the right corner from Connon’s pass before Chick added a second from close range for the home side.
But Newcastle had long since surrendered the points – their first-half horror show saw to that – and director of rugby Dean Richards admitted: “We’re missing a huge amount of players but the boys just didn’t turn up today.”