Harlequins' first league win since mid-November, a 33-19 triumph over the Falcons, secured their first bonus points for six matches and lifted the club off the foot of the Zurich Premiership.

A five-star, four-try performance ended the hopes of Newcastle Falcons and gave the London side a lift in their battle to avoid the drop.

The home side got off to an ideal start after two minutes with a Paul Burke penalty from 40 metres.

Shortly afterwards Burke's delicate chip into the left hand corner earned the home team another penalty that they chose to kick for the line-out - and the big drive saw Adrian Olver score the first try, and with Burke's conversion Quins were 10-0 up.

Three minutes later though Johnny Wilkinson started the comeback with a mazy 30-yard diagonal run into the right corner, before slipping a reverse pass to centre Michael Stephenson, who touched down. Wilkinson converted to make it 10-7.

Shortly afterwards Wilkinson added a drop goal to level matters but in a pulsating opening Paul Burke added a penalty to give the home side a narrow 13-10 advantage.

Wilkinson levelled matters midway through the half with a penalty and the visitors comfortably dealt with everything the home side could throw at them until seconds before the half time whistle.

England centre Will Greenwood's crossfield kick found Steve White-Cooper in acres of space and his try, converted by Burke, allowed the home team to turn around 20-13 ahead.

Wilkinson added a drop goal early in the second period but the game turned on an interception try from Harlequins centre Chris Bell, who powered in from 75 yards after intercepting a pass from Newcastle's Andy Mower.

Burke and Wilkinson traded penalties for a second time on the hour mark to keep the home side nine points ahead.

And they sealed matters in the 64th minute when they once again set up a driving maul from a line-out close to the visitors line.

Former Oxford University star Luke Sherriff was driven over for the all-important fourth try that earned them a bonus point and lifted them off the foot of the table.