Bok scores as Quins move to the top
FRIDAY WRAP: Harlequins moved to the top of the Premiership with a bonus-point 24-3 victory over bottom-of-the-table Newcastle at Kingston Park.
Falcons were backed by their biggest home crowd of the season as they went in search of their first league win since last March, but that scenario was never on the cards from the moment Quins wing Nick David opened the scoring after 67 seconds.
Further tries from World Cup-winning Springbok Andre Esterhuizen, Jack Walker and George Hammond took the game away from the beleaguered hosts, who continue to struggle in the top flight with an under-equipped squad amid financial cutbacks.
The victory elevated Quins from sixth place to the top of a congested Premiership table – overnight at least – with Newcastle remaining rooted to the bottom, 12 points adrift of Gloucester.
* In the other Friday match Sale Sharks missed the opportunity to return to the Premiership summit after a 14-22 home loss to Bristol Bears.
Improving Bears prevailed thanks to a hugely impressive all-round performance as they condemned the hosts to defeat on their own patch following 12 straight home league wins.
It's now three wins in four games for Pat Lam's Bears, who defended solidly throughout.
All of Friday's scores and scorers are below ...
Newcastle Falcons 3-24 Harlequins
The scorers
For Newcastle Falcons
Pen: Connon
For Harlequins
Tries: David, Esterhuizen, Walker, Hammond
Cons: Edwards 2
Yellow card: Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 24)
Teams
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Jordan Holgate, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott, 8 Callum Chick (captain), 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Kiran McDonald, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Phil Brantingham.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Josh Barton, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cameron Anderson, 10 Will Edwards, 9 Will Porter, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 James Chisholm, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter.
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Max Green, 22 Lennox Anyanwu, 23 Louis Lynagh.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Wayne Falla
TMO: Tom Foley
Sale Sharks 14-22 Bristol Bears
The scorers
For Sale Sharks
Tries: Hill, Creevy
Cons: R du Preez 2
For Bristol Bears
Tries: Randall, Ibitoye, Malins
Cons: MacGinty 2
Pen: MacGinty
Yellow cards: Telusa Veainu (Sale Sharks, 70), Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, 72)
Teams
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Ben Curry (captain), 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 James Harper, 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Telusa Veainu.
Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Joe Batley, 4 Josh Caulfield, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Jake Woolmore.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 George Kloska, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 23 Rich Lane.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Andrew Jackson