Harlequins 24 Newcastle Falcons 10

A fittingly defiant performance from Newcastle Falcons on Mike Brown’s homecoming could not prevent Harlequins from landing a third consecutive win that sends the reigning Premiership champions above Saracens and into second. The hosts blew hot and cold and should have been made to pay for going down to 13 men in the second half following rapid-fire yellow cards for Luke Northmore and Danny Care. 

“We actually practiced with Danny off in the week,” Tabai Matson, the Harlequins senior coach, revealed at full-time. “You never practice for two [yellows], and it turned into a bit of a shambles. They’ll probably be disappointed that they went the wrong way on a couple of plays. We survived, and that’s the main thing.” 

Despite the efforts of Brown, Adam Radwan and George McGuigan, Newcastle’s free-running hooker, Harlequins prevailed thanks to tries from Huw Jones, Louis Lynagh and Cadan Murley, who bagged a double. In a tearful BT Sport interview aired ahead of the game, Brown had revealed that his contract would not be renewed for next season and admitted that it leaves him playing to attract a suitor. It was certainly jarring to see him at the Twickenham Stoop facing Harlequins, whom he represented in a record 351 matches between 2005 and 2021. 

There is even a bar that bears his name in the players’ lounge of the East Stand. The 36-year-old had his first touch within 40 seconds as he rose to gather Care’s box-kick. Newcastle had lost their last seven league outings, yet started well and breached the opposition 22 through centre Pete Lucock. It did not last. Harlequins ran the ball from their own five-metre line, with Murley surging into space. The ball was spread to the other flank, where Tyrone Green and then André Esterhuizen made ground. 

After two pull-back passes, Tommy Allan split Newcastle. He linked up with a supporting Jones on his inside and then converted an archetypal Harlequins try. In the 16th minute, Brown forced a belligerent breakdown turnover. He swooped on to Joe Marler, who had stolen the ball at the previous ruck. Falcons kicked to touch and earned another penalty under the posts. McGuigan knocked on in an attempt to shunt over. Marler and Wilco Louw dominated the ensuing scrum. Rising to his audition, Brown remained prominent. After receiving a ticking-off from referee Karl Dickson, another ex-Harlequins team-mate, for back-chat, he took a tap-penalty that led to three points for Will Haydon-Wood. Falcons were not within four for long. From a robust maul, Murley bustled over the whitewash. 

Harlequins’ third arrived on the half-hour mark. Jones and Esterhuizen gave Green some room and the fizzing full-back, Brown’s successor, sent Lynagh clear. The ease of the sweeping move suggested that Falcons might crumble. Instead, they responded before half-time. Tom Marshall dotted down from close range. Newcastle’s endeavour led to two Harlequins yellow cards in two minutes. First Northmore was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, and then Care was adjudged to have competed for the ball illegally. From a five-metre scrum against 13 men, Haydon-Wood stretched for the line, but spilled. Marler added an important breakdown turnover seconds later. Archie White then held up Radwan to herald the return of Northmore and Care. Back to 15, the champions picked up a bonus-point. 

Marler and Collier combined to win a set-piece penalty, which was kicked to touch. Jack Walker’s throw sailed to the tail and White spun to the blindside. Care could free Murley. There was still time for yet another burst from the tireless McGuigan, with Radwan also darting past tacklers. However, an offload from Brown drifted forward to hasten the end. “Browny’s Browny,” Dave Walder, Newcastle’s head coach, said. “He’s the most determined bloke you’ll ever meet. He prepared like he prepares every week – like he was playing in a Test match.”

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Jones try, 7-0 Allan conversion, 7-3 Haydon-Wood penalty, 12-3 Murley, 17-3 Lynagh try, 19-3 Allan conversion, 19-8 Marshall try, 19-10 Haydon-Wood conversion, 24-10 Murley try

Yellow cards: Northmore 53, Care 55

Harlequins: T Green; L Lynagh, H Jones (L Northmore, 50), A Esterhuizen, C Murley; T Allan (W Edwards, 65), D Care (L Gjatltema, 69); J Marler (S Kerrod, 77), S Riley (J Walker, 50), W Louw (W Collier, 50), M Symons, (G Hammond, 53), H Tizard (M Jurevicius, 69), S Lewies, T Lawday, A White

Newcastle Falcons: M Brown; T Penny, G Wacokecoke (M Wright, 73), P Lucock, A Radwan; W Haydon-Wood (B Connon, 65), C Nordli-Kelemeti (L Schreuder, 50); T Davison (A Brocklebank, 50), G McGuigan, M Tampin (R Palframan, 50), G Peterson (W Montgomery, 64), R Farrar, S Robinson, J Basham, T Marshall (F Lockwood, 50)

Replacement not used: C Maddison