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Falcons too Goode for Quins

The 26-19 triumph lifted the Kingston Park outfit off the foot of the Premiership table.

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* In the other Sunday match .the Premiership's leading try scorer Thomas Waldrom spearheaded Exeter Chiefs' 30-15 bonus-point win at Worcester Warriors that closed the gap on Saracens at the top of the table.

We look at Sunday's matches!

Newcastle Falcons 26-19 Harlequins

Andy Goode came off the bench to kick Newcastle Falcons to a fantastic win over Harlequins that lifts the Kingston Park outfit off the foot of the Premiership table.

The 35-year-old slotted three penalties in the second half before converting Rob Vickers' late try as Falcons came from behind to claim a famous victory.

They started the game impressively, Scott Lawson's try and Craig Willis' penalty opening a 10-0 lead for the home side.

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But they were punished either side of the interval by Quins who crossed three times through Charlie Walker's double and Dave Ward's score.

Trailing 19-10, the Falcons – who have now won four in a row at home in all competitions – came roaring back as Goode replaced Willis.

Three penalties levelled up matters before Vickers went over from close range to seal back-to-back league wins over Quins for the first time since 2000.Falcons too Goode for Quins

Harlequins' impressive seven-match unbeaten run ended in Montpellier last Friday, but they started the brighter of the two sides at Kingston Park.

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The Falcons defence stood up well to the early test and Quins – missing some big names from their first XV on international duty – were not quite clicking at set-piece or with ball in hand.

And that clumsiness was punished by the home side with their first foray into Quins territory – hooker Lawson barging over at the back of a driving maul for the game's first try.

Willis slotted the conversion and added a penalty just before the 20-minute mark after Alex Tait's superb solo break had cut the Quins defence to ribbons.

Falcons – with only one win to their name in the league this season – were 10-0 to the good and not looking unduly troubled by a Quins team that started the weekend third in the table.

However just when it looked like Dean Richards' side would get to the break with a ten-point lead a pumped up Ward gave the visitors a foothold.

Visibly fuming at a refereeing decision moments before, the hooker – playing at openside flanker today – burst through four Falcons tackles with ease before feeding Walker to dot down in the left corner.

Evans added a tricky conversion in blustery conditions and Conor O'Shea would have been delighted to see his side come in only 10-7 behind.

And straight after the break the hosts were hit by two sucker punches as Quins grabbed back-to-back tries to seemingly wrestle the game out of Newcastle's control.

First Ward was driven over at the back of a driving maul in the left corner, Evans missed the conversion this time and they led 12-7.

Seconds later and they had their third try of the day and it was Walker who grabbed it, George Lowe creating an overlap down the left before releasing his winger who bounced off Simon Hammersley too easily to canter under the posts.

Evans' conversion made it 19-10 and it appeared the Falcons had wasted a golden opportunity.

But Goode was introduced in the 57th minute and made an immediate impact. The veteran fly-half slotting two penalties either side of the hour mark to trim the lead to 19-16 as the game entered the final quarter.

And the fly-half was not finished there, booming over his third kick of the afternoon to level up proceedings when James Horwill was pinged for a high tackle.

But the Falcons wanted more than a draw and in the final moments they were hammering away at the Quins line – the Kingston Park faithful whipped into frenzy in anticipation of a famous win.

And in the end it was Vickers who barged over with help from Nili Latu to seal victory at the death, Goode adding the extras for good measure as the Falcons leapfrog London Irish and climb off the bottom.

The scorers:

For Newcastle Falcons:

Tries: Latu, Vickers

Cons: Willis, Goode

Pens: Willis, Goode 3

For Harlequins:

Tries: Walker 2, Ward

Cons: Evans 2

Teams

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Giamba Venditti, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Will Welch, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Mark Wilson, 3 Taione Vea, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers.

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Eric Fry, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Andy Goode, 23 Adam Powell.

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Nick Evans (captain), 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Dave Ward, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 James Horwill, 3 Will Collier, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Mark Lambert.

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Calum Waters, 22 Ben Botica, Tim Swiel.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: Darren Gamage, Paul Burton

TMO: Trevor Fisher

Warriors 15-30 Exeter Chiefs

Premiership's leading try scorer Thomas Waldrom spearheaded Exeter Chiefs' bonus-point win at Worcester Warriors that closed the gap on Saracens at the top of the table.

Saracens, 24 hours earlier, had overturned a 0-13 half-time deficit to beat Bath, but missed out on securing a bonus-point at Allianz Park.Falcons too Goode for Quins

But the Chiefs made no mistake with scores from James Short, Ian Whitten, Waldrom and Don Armand ensuring a maximum return action Worcester Warriors.

The top two meet in Premiership next time out at Sandy Park.

Sixways has been a happy stomping ground for Exeter in the past, with 80 points registered in their last two away trips.

So it was perhaps no surprise to see James Short cross on two minutes, though Gareth Steenson failed with the conversion.

But midway through the first half it was Worcester, chasing their first-ever Premiership victory over Exeter, who led thanks to two penalties from Tom Heathcote.

Exeter made a brilliant break look simple for their second try to regain the lead on 28 minutes.

Short took the ball from a line-out, offloaded to Will Chudley who in turn set Whitten free to run for the line. Steenson added the extras.

Heathcote looked to have found his range at the other end with two more penalties to pull the teams level at 12-12, though missed one off the tee on the stroke of half-time.

It would prove to be the final chance Worcester had to upset the applecart as Exeter upped the ante in the second period.

Steenson and Heathcote traded penalties and, once the match settled down after a spate of replacements the Chiefs took control.

The most familiar sight seen in Premiership this season has been Waldrom crossing the line, and he did so for a league high seventh time – and 11th in all competitions – on 58 minutes when he pealed away from the pack to dive over the whitewash from close range. Steenson converted.

And ten minutes later the bonus point was secured by Armand and Steenson's penalty six minutes from time put Exeter out of sight.

The scorers:

For Worcester Warriors:

Pens: Heathcote 5

For Exeter Chiefs:

Tries: Short, Whitten, Waldrom, Armand

Cons: Steenson 2

Pens: Steenson 2

Teams:

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills , 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Luke Baldwin, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze (captain), 7 Marco Mama, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga.

Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Ryan Bower, 19 James Johnston, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Andy Symons, 23 Dean Hammond.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Don Armand, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Jonny Hill, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Sam Hill.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Assistant referees: Peter Allan, Roger Baileff

TMO: Sean Davey

Source: @premrugby

Falcons too Goode for Quins

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