Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Newcastle 3-24 Harlequins

Newcastle Falcons 3-24 Harlequins, Kingston Park

Harlequins have moved to the top of the Gallagher Premiership as they defeated Newcastle Falcons 24-3 in the latest round of the Gallagher Premiership at Kingston Park on Friday.

Quins were without Marcus Smith, Danny Care and Joe Marler for the encounter but still they managed to secure their seventh win of the campaign taking them to the top of the table while Newcastle's losing streak continued as they are languishing at the bottom after their 11th successive defeat.

The Quins opened their account in the first minute as winger Nick David collected a looping pass to touchdown in the right corner but Will Edwards missed out on the conversion.

The Falcons were down to 14 players temporarily with Adam Radwan sin-binned for a no-arms tackle and the Quins doubled their tally shortly as Andre Esterhuizen found the gap to dot down but once again the conversion drifted wide making it 0-10.

Brett Connon making his 100th appearance for the club kicked Newcastle's only points just before the break as the teams completed the opening half with a 3-10 scoreline.

The Quins extended the momentum into the second half as England hooker Jack Walker dived over at the back of a maul and George Hammond followed the suit in the 55th minute to secure the bonus point. Edwards kicked both the conversions as they extended the lead to 3-24.

With no further breakthrough, the Falcons could not close the gap allowing Harlequins to complete a 21 point victory as they moved to the top.

Team line up:

Newcastle: Penny; Radwan, Wacokecoke, Holgate, Stephens; Connon, Elliott; Brantingham, Byrne, Bello, De Chaves, McDonald, Rubiolo, Pepper, Chick (c).

Reserves: Van Vuuren, Brocklebank, McCallum, Cardall, Van der Walt, Barton, Johnson, Obatoyinbo.

Harlequins: Green; David, Beard, Esterhuizen, Anderson; Edwards, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Collier, Herbst, Hammond, Chisholm, Evans, Dombrandt (c).

Reserves: Riley, Els, Chawatama, Launchbury, Cunningham-South, Green, Anyanwu, Lynagh.