Bates: We'll give all against Quins.

Byline: NICK PUREWAL

STEVE BATES has vowed that Newcastle Falcons will throw everything at Harlequins at Kingston Park on Sunday. Falcons rugby director Bates was unimpressed with Worcester's driving maul route to victory at Sixways on Saturday as the Anglo-Welsh Cup got underway.

Three second-half driven scores left the Falcons flattened by a bonus-point defeat - but the group stage competition format and results elsewhere leaves Newcastle still in with a big shout of semi-final progression.

The Falcons must top Pool Two to win a last-four spot, and no points from the first round would usually be a big worry.

But teams from Pool Two play teams from Pool Three - and none of the Pool Two teams won at the weekend.

Gloucester were pipped at Kingsholm by Cardiff Blues, while London Irish lost at home to Wasps - and Harlequins drew 15-15 at The Stoop with the Scarlets.

So a win over Quins at home this weekend, and Bates' men might just find themselves top of the pile if results elsewhere go their way.

As things stand Llanelli's draw puts them top of Pool Two with just two points, Gloucester and London Irish only mustering losing bonus points.

So while Newcastle are bottom of the pile and without a point to their name, they also find themselves strangely still in the running.

Bates has been nonplussed by the format from the very start, but that does not mean he does not understand it - and he knows a win on Sunday will throw his men right back into the mix.

Bates said: "The situation is a strange one and one perhaps no-one has encountered before, but it is also one we hope to take advantage of.

"If we can beat Quins, then at best we will top the group which would be great, but at the worst if we win then we will put ourselves right back in the running to progress from the group stage.

"This is the important game then, and everyone is aware of that.

"Certainly, after defeat at Worcester last week, no-one was happy with that.

"It was an opportunity to change things, freshen things up and also give a few youngsters a chance.

"I was impressed with the likes of Mark Wilson and they certainly come into contention again because of how they performed.

"But if he or any of the others are involved again this weekend they will be there on merit.

"We didn't deal with the rolling maul well enough at the weekend so that's something we'll look at and work on this week - we don't want that to happen to us again.

"We're proud of the way our pack has gone so far this season, and just because we made the odd change doesn't mean that we drop our standards.

"We know we can defend and stop that ploy better than we did at the weekend and that's something we'll definitely look at.

"A win against Quins would set us up in this competition, but it would also give everyone a boost going back into the Premiership next weekend at London Irish."

CAPTION(S):

TIGHTEN UP: Steve Bates is looking for his Falcons side to defend better than they did in their defeat away to Worcester on Saturday