Two steps forward (Harlequins 44 - Newcastle Falcons 15)

So Quins win two in a row, and put in perhaps their best performance of the year. We controlled the game for 60 mins and for once put our chances away. Multitude of positives, including:

1) Stuart Abbott finally starting to justify the money we are paying him.

2) Ball retention, for the first time this season we seemed comfortable moving through the phases, helped by;

3) The forwards having the falcons pack on toast. There was a definite edge at the scrum, I don't think we lost a lineout all afternoon and nicked a couple of theirs, and beasted them at ruck and maul time.

4) The defense. We blanked them in the 2nd half, nuff said.

Negatives, given the amount of possession and territory we had we should have been further in front than 10 points after 20mins. We switched off in the second quarter trying to play champagne rugby before we had the game won, which led to us gifting them a try.

All in all though not a bad way to start 2007.