Match Centre: Newcastle Falcons 31-40 Harlequins

Newcastle Falcons 31-40 Harlequins, Kingston Park

Alex Dombrandt and Joe Marchant scored tries in the final 10 minutes as Harlequins made a spirited second half fightback to beat Newcastle Falcons 40-31 in the opening round of the Gallagher Premiership at Kingston Park on Saturday.

The Falcons were the first to open their account as George McGuigan dived over from a rolling maul in the right corner in the 12th minute but Brett Connon missed out on the conversion.

Just as Harlequins had a try disallowed after a consultation with a TMO, they soon got their first points with this time Tyrone Green diving under the posts in the 18th minute and Wilco Louw followed the suit in the 24th minute. Tommaso Allan kicked both the conversions as the Quins raced to a 5-14 lead.

With the half-hour mark approaching, Adam Radwan set up incredible pace to dive over the line and they had the momentum heading into the break with Nathan Earle also crossing over. Connon managed to get the conversion right on the second occasion as the Falcons completed the opening half with a 17-14 lead.

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges in the second half as George Head touched down after kicking a penalty to the corner and in the 53rd minute Lennox Anwanyu extended their lead to 11 points when he was quickest to a loose ball down the right to register their bonus point try, with Allan once again converting.

The momentum once again swung towards the home side as McGuigan scored from a maul in the right corner in the 58th minute and Logovi'i Mulipola followed the suit in the 65th minute. Connon kicked the conversions on both the occasions as they extended their lead to 31-28.

With the game entering the final 10 minutes, Harlequins seized the chances Alex Dombrandt went past tackles from Newcastle defence on his way over the line and any chances of the visitors coming back into the game was put off as Joe Marchant collected a loose forward to score denying Newcastle a losing bonus point.

Team line up:

Newcastle Falcons: Tait, Radwan, Stevenson, Lucock, Earle, Connon, Barton, Brantingham, McGuigan, Davison, Peterson, De Chaves, Robinson, Blamire, Welch.

Reserves: Maddison, Mulipola, Tampin, Merrick, Marshall, Nordli-Kelemeti, Schoeman, Wacokecoke.

Harlequins: Green, David, Northmore, Anyanwu, Murley, Allan, Gjaltema, Marler, Head, Louw, Hammond, Herbst, Kenningham, Lawday, Dombrandt.

Reserves: Walker, Kerrod, Collier, Lamb, Evans, Stafford, Edwards, Marchant.