Smith stars with 18 factors to assist Harlequins overcome Newcastle and finish winless run

Harlequins made a profitable begin to 2025 with a 38-14 bonus-point victory over Gallagher Premiership backside facet Newcastle Falcons.

James Chisholm, Marcus Smith, Jack Walker, Oscar Beard and Sam Riley all crossed in a commanding win for Danny Wilson’s facet at Kingston Park.

The guests rapidly established their authority on proceedings, and struck first from a lineout with Chisholm bulldozing his option to the road.

With substitute Irne Herbst sin-binned, Newcastle capitalised on their numerical benefit as Adam Radwan levelled, however Smith restored Harlequins’ lead earlier than the break.

The hosts lowered their arrears to simply three factors with 13 minutes remaining, with Ben Redshaw chasing Ben Stevenson’s intelligent punt and touching down.

Nonetheless, it proved a false daybreak for Newcastle because the guests crossed 3 times within the ultimate eight minutes – via Walker, Beard and Riley so as to add gloss to the scoreline.

Harlequins had did not win any of their three earlier Gallagher Premiership matches forward of their lengthy journey to Kingston Park.

Nonetheless, Quins could have been boosted by the actual fact they’d gained every of their earlier eight encounters with Newcastle.

The guests seemed assured early on, although they grew to become slightly sloppy after dropping Herbst to the bin.

However regardless of seeing their lead reduce to a few factors heading into the ultimate 10 minutes, Harlequins maintained their composure and finally ran away with the competition within the dying levels.

The guests’ No. 8 acquired his facet on the scoreboard, demonstrating nice power to energy via a few challenges and contact down.

He always drove Quins’ surges from the again of the pack, serving to his facet finally land the bonus level.

Newcastle Falcons: Ben Redshaw 7, Adam Radwan 7, Alex Hearle 7, Connor Doherty 6, Ben Stevenson 7, Brett Connon 7, Sam Stuart 6; Murray McCallum 6, Jamie Blamire 6, Richard Palframan 6, Sebastian De Chaves 6, Kiran McDonald 6, Freddie Lockwood 6, Tom Gordon 6, Callum Chick 6. Replacements: Ollie Fletcher 6, Micky Rewcastle 6, Callum Hancock 6, John Hawkins 6, Philip van der Walt 6, Max Pepper 6, Louis Brown 6, Oli Spencer 6.

Harlequins: Nick David 7, Rodrigo Isgro 6, Oscar Beard 7, Luke Northmore 6, Cadan Murley 7, Marcus Smith 8, Will Porter 7; Fin Baxter 7, Jack Walker 8, Titi Lamositele 7, Joe Launchbury 7, Dino Lamb 6, Jack Kenningham 6, Will Evans 8, James Chisholm 9*. Replacements: Sam Riley 7, Wyn Jones 6, Dillon Lewis 6, Irne Herbst 6, Alex Dombrandt 6, Lucas Friday 6, Jarrod Evans 6, Ben Waghorn 6.

11′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 0-7 HARLEQUINS (CHISHOLM): The guests have the breakthrough! Quins work the lineout brilliantly from inside Newcastle’s 22, with Chisholm finally bulldozing his means via challenges and underneath the posts. Smith makes no mistake changing 5 factors into seven.

34′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 7-7 HARLEQUINS (RADWAN): The Falcons get themselves on the scoreboard! Quins have been sloppy since they had been lowered to 14 males, and the hosts lastly take benefit with Radwan alone on the best wing to the touch down. Connon converts to stage the rating.

37′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 7-14 HARLEQUINS (SMITH): The guests again in entrance! Again to full-strength with Herbst returning to the motion, Harlequins rapidly profit from it. An excellent lay-off from Will Evans finds the unmarked Smith, who darts underneath the posts earlier than changing.

67′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-17 HARLEQUINS (REDSHAW): Hope for the hosts! A intelligent punt out to the best and subsequently kicked on by Stevenson. The ball ricochets off the flag and bounces kindly for the onrushing Redshaw, who touches down. Connon converts and it’s a three-point recreation.

72′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-24 HARLEQUINS (WALKER): The guests give themselves respiration house once more! They push from the lineout as soon as extra, and Walker finally manages to scramble over. Smith subsequently stays impeccable from the tee.

77′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-31 HARLEQUINS (BEARD): The bonus level is secured for the guests! They’ve a person over in Murley, who’s noticed by Smith with a intelligent punt. The skipper then neatly offloads for Beard to energy over the road. Smith makes no mistake once more, and the victory ought to be within the bag now.

80+2′ TRY!!! NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-38 HARLEQUINS (RILEY): The guests end with a flourish, as a collection of neat offloads results in Riley crossing. Smith doesn’t miss, changing 5 factors into seven, earlier than the ultimate whistle sounds.

• Harlequins have now gained every of their final 9 conferences with Newcastle Falcons.