Newcastle Falcons' maul struggles cost them against Harlequins - Steve Diamond

Newcastle Falcons suffered a 38-14 defeat to Harlequins at Kingston Park on Friday, with Director of Rugby Steve Diamond pinpointing the team’s inability to defend the maul as a decisive factor.

Despite narrowing the gap to just three points with 15 minutes remaining, the Falcons were overwhelmed in the final stages.

Speaking after the match, Diamond expressed his frustration over his team’s performance.

“If you can’t defend a maul, then you’re not going to win a game of rugby,” he said.

“I’m the most disappointed I’ve been since I took this job because that game was there for the taking.”

The Falcons struggled to contain Harlequins’ driving maul, which repeatedly resulted in penalties, corner kicks, and tries. Diamond was particularly frustrated with the team's repeated decision to kick to touch, feeding into the opposition's strength.

While Newcastle managed to stay within three points of Harlequins until the final quarter, the visitors capitalized on their set-piece dominance to pull away.

Harlequins punished the Falcons for their indiscipline, with Newcastle conceding 13 penalties—well above their season average of eight.

Diamond lamented the disparity in physicality during the game, describing it as “men against boys in certain areas.” He acknowledged the team’s effort but criticized the lack of execution in critical moments.

Despite the loss, Diamond remained optimistic about turning things around. “We can either shut up shop now halfway through the season or go back to basics and start again.

"That’s what we’ll have to do on Monday morning because we’re not a team who give up.”