It was a cloudy afternoon at Kingston Park as our side took the field showing five changes from last week’s demolition of Bath.  Matt Burke and Semi Sititi started their first Premiership matches, the latter part of an all-new-boy back row.

We put Harlequins under pressure at the start, and Jonny Wilkinson missed two penalties out on the left before scoring a third, while his opposite number Jeremy Staunton also seemed out of sorts with the boot, missing a drop goal but then hitting an equalising penalty.

It was the visitors who scored the first try of the day after a turnover on halfway set centre George Harder scything through our midfield, minus Mark Mayerhofler who had gone off injured with a suspected broken foot, Staunton adding the conversion. The two fly-halves then traded penalties before away flanker Luke Sherriff was sin-binned for killing the ball on half time, and Wilkinson scored the three to keep us in touch 9-13 at the break.

Despite an early unconverted try from Gavin Duffy increasing the deficit, the second half was almost completely run by Newcastle, but Harlequins’ negative and cynical tactics ruined most of our attacks.  Finally another of their forwards, Simon Miall, was removed and Wilkinson’s penalty put us back within a converted try’s reach.  We took full advantage of the extra man to batter the Quins forwards into numerous errors and fouls on their line until referee Sean Davey had no other option but to award a penalty try.  Finally!

Wilkinson’s conversion and another penalty gave us a 22-18 lead going into the final stages, but Staunton reduced the advantage back to a single point with a penalty.  We had Mike McCarthy yellow carded for good measure right at the death, before the referee awarded the visitors a penalty on the right of halfway.  Oh no!  They wouldn’t steal another win up here?  Staunton seemed to take an age to kick, he stepped up, and the ball flew… WIDE!  Almost there we were…

Geordie hearts hammering and stomachs turning, the Quins continued to attack and after we were for some reason penalised for kicking a drop out into touch, even missed a drop goal attempt in front of the posts, while we defended for dear life.  Would it be enough?  In the end, YES!  It was enough, and we moved to the top of the table!  Players and fans breathed a massive sigh of relief after winning the tightest of matches.

We can be happy because if we’d lost today much of the big optimism created in the last two weeks would’ve been crushed, but a big win would’ve had our heads in the clouds. Tight was what we needed I feel. Our confidence wouldn’t really be dented by defeat at Gloucester, where few sides even get scraps to feed on, but we go there with a lot of belief that we have taken apart Bath, a top side, and won a tough contest today. Furthermore, we achieved the latter without our defensive chief Mark Mayerhofler.

Cracks did appear once he went off, but we still defended well at the end. We must hope Mark recovers quickly from whatever injury he turns out to have sustained. For me he is our most important player.

But for now, it’s another long week before we return to the south-west to Kingsholm. Here we stand, Gloucester. Bring it on.

Positives - much improved lineout, good scrum and decision-making. Bar the second try, good defence without Mayerhofler. Off the field, the programme was the best I have ever seen in rugby. Deadly serious! Club shop bigger and nicer too.

Negatives - bad ball handling leading to Quins’ first try, both at tackles and receiving passes. Losing Mayerhofler. The fact my blood pressure again rose above safe levels J.

Off the field, the PA system was a shambles 3 weeks after not working properly at the Bees game. Problems at club shop (see thread).

Fans - decent atmosphere in South Stand, though not all of my attempts to get a "Falcons, Falcons" roar going at important moments were successful. We need EVERYONE actively and noisily supporting the Boys! After all, they are playing for us!

Newcastle - M Burke, T May, J Noon, M Mayerhofler (D Walder 13), M Stephenson, J Wilkinson © 5P, 1C, H Charlton (J Grindal 57), I Peel ©, A Long (M Thompson 60), M Ward (J Isaacson 40), S Grimes, C Hamilton (L Gross 40), M McCarthy (YC), C Charvis, S Sititi.

Subs not used: E Taione, J Shaw.

Harlequins - G Duffy 1T, U Monye, G Harder 1T, A Reay, S Keogh, J Staunton 3P 1C, S So’oialo, C Jones (M Worsley 60), A Tiatia, J Dawson, K Rudzki, S Miall (YC) (R Winters 60), L Sherriff (YC), A Vos ©, T Diprose.

Subs not used: J Hayter, K Hortsmann, M Molitika, A Dunne, T Williams.

Referee: Sean Davey

Attendance: 8,706

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