3 hours ago
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The Prem
Harlequins (35) 52
Tries: Northmore, T Green (2), Porter, Isgro, Evans, Cleaves, Turner Cons: Smith (6)
Newcastle (0) 14
Tries: Leatherbarrow, McCallum Cons: Connon (2)
Marcus Smith warmed up for the autumn internationals with a standout performance in a dominant 52-14 Harlequins victory over bottom side Newcastle Red Bulls.
With Steve Borthwick's England set to take on improving Australia at Twickenham next weekend, Smith delivered a timely reminder of his talents.
The 26-year-old was superb with ball in hand with two try-assists as Quins ran in eight in all and his kicking was on point too, converting six of them from all angles.
Defeat for Newcastle left them still winless and rooted to the bottom of the Prem table, extending their losing run on the road to nearly three years since their last away league win at Gloucester in November 2022.
Smith's performance must surely place him in the conversation over the identity of England's playmaker as they prepare for forthcoming Tests against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina over the next four weeks.
His critics will point to inconsistency from week to week and he would be the first to admit he was not at his best against title contenders Exeter last weekend as Quins went down 38-0.
Yet here the best of Smith was on show and time and again it was the Quins star who punched holes in Newcastle's defence.
There were two brilliant assists either side of half-time, first setting up Will Porter after 23 minutes and then flying replacement wing Cassius Cleaves before the hour mark.
Luke Northmore had set the ball rolling, going over from close range after 10 minutes before Tyrone Green added a second with the visitors defence stretched to breaking point seven minutes later.
Porter's execution after Smith's darting burst preceded a brilliantly-taken fourth try from Rodrigo Isgro, the Pumas wing getting to Porter's grubber ahead of a dithering Simon Benitez Cruz to volley the ball forward and touch down, before Green's second gave Quins a 35-0 half time lead.
Will Evans finished off a driving maul early in the second period, Cleaves went in in the corner to decorate Smith's dummy and inside pass before replacement hooker George Turner finished off a driving maul to complete Quins' scoring at 52-0.
To their credit Newcastle rallied late on, finishing with a flourish with tries from Ollie Leatherbarrow and Murray McCallum, both converted by Brett Connon.
Coach Alan Dickens will hope that late momentum can be taken into next weekend's visit of Leicester Tigers to Kingston Park as they resume their search for a first win - and a first point - of the Prem campaign.
Harlequins: T Green, Isgro, Northmore, J Evans, Murley, Smith, Porter, Baxter, Walker, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Lewies, Kenningham, Evans, Carr
Replacements: Turner, Wenger, Delgado, Launchbury, J Green, M Green, Benson, Cleaves
Newcastle: Coetzee, Obatoyinbo, Spencer, Clark, Hearle, Connon, Cruz, Brocklebank, McGuigan, Palfranan, Hodgson, Clarke, Lee-Warner, Gordon, Mafi
Replacements: Fletcher, McCallum, de Bruin, Usher, Lockwood, Elliott, Leatherbarrow, Greenwood
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
