Harlequins gave Newcastle a lesson in finishing as they scored five converted tries on their way to a 38-17 Gallagher Premiership win at Kingston Park.
The defeat sees the Falcons remain firmly anchored at the bottom of the table and relegation now looks a real threat but while Newcastle struggle, Paul Gustard's side are now serious top-four contenders.
Quins had the four-try bonus point wrapped up by half time – they struck early with a short throw to the front of a line-out and hooker Max Crumpton rocketed in at the corner and Marcus Smith added the extras in the fifth minute for 7-0.
Newcastle pulled three points back with a Brett Connon penalty for not rolling away two minutes later.
It should have been 7-6 soon afterwards but Connon's penalty attempt hit the post, rebounded to Gary Graham and the try was on only for Josh Matavesi to throw a long pass which Nathan Earle gratefully intercepted to run in from 80 metres and Smith converted to make it 14-3.
Matavesi could have made amends in an attack down the left but he spilled the ball 30 metres out and then Newcastle committed another cardinal error, losing the ball in attack and there was no-one at home when Quins kicked through with Joe Marchant and Mike Brown chasing it down and there was no stopping Gabriel Ibitoye as he swept in for Quins third try, Smith converting.
The bonus-point try came right on half time with some sustained drives up to the Newcastle line but which ended with a brilliant offload from Ibitoye for Jack Clifford to score and Smith converted for a deserved 28-3 half time lead.
There was no respite for Newcastle as the Quins pack hammered them back over the line for Alex Dombrandt to score their fifth try with Smith keeping his 100 per cent conversion rate to make it 35-3.
Newcastle finally put together a spell of sustained pressure and possession and Vereniki Goneva somehow stayed upright on a long weaving run to get over in the corner in the 50th minute and Connon converted for 35-10 and the forwards got in on the act with a pulverising drive from a line-out for Calum Chick's 63rd-minute score converted by Connon for 35-17.
Smith's 71st-minute penalty halted the Falcons fightback and Quins were happy enough to run down the clock in and around the fringes of the forwards in the closing minutes.
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