Newcastle Falcons Under-18s felt the full force of Saracens’ power and pace as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 72-21 score-line on Wednesday at Kingston Park.

The teams were level at 14-14 on 25 minutes before the visitors went through the gears, racing into a 36-14 half-time lead and building on it thereafter in front of a healthy crowd in the August sun.

An open and entertaining encounter saw Sarries’ outside centre open the scoring down the left-hand side.

Newcastle drew level on ten minutes when fly-half Charlie Dinneen wriggled over down the left as his side’s defensive pressure earned them prime field position – Dineen adding the conversion himself.

The Londoners led again when an overthrown lineout and a scramble on the floor allowed a close-range try, but the Falcons responded when winger Charlie Lawson scored in the left corner following simple hands along the line after defensive numbers had been sucked towards the midfield.

Dineen’s conversion levelled the scores, but Saracens added four unanswered tries before half-time – scoring from an overlap down the left, then again to the right, from turnover ball in the home 22 and finally a solo score in the right corner.

Saracens added further to their tally after the resumption when their full-back scored in the left corner after collecting an offload, crossing the line again five minutes later from a close-range pick and go.

A midfield chip and chase delivered a further try as the game passed the hour mark, and the Falcons were reduced to 14 men when a maul in the left corner was pulled down and a penalty try awarded to the visitors.

An interception saw them adding a further seven as the Falcons tried to play from deep, and a driving maul in the left corner took them past the 70 mark.

Newcastle earned a consolation score when winger Alfie Warwick scored a wonderful individual try down the right, chipping and chasing past the last defender before Matthew Cooke added the touchline conversion with the final kick of the afternoon.

The Falcons are next in action against Yorkshire on Wednesday at Kingston Park, with the U17s game at 6pm followed by the U18s at 8pm.

Newcastle Falcons Under-18s

15 Ajay Edwards (Durham School, Durham City)

14 Olly Stanley (Barnard Castle School, Darlington RFC)

13 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy)

12 Conrad Thorpe (Gosforth Academy, Tynedale)

11 Charlie Lawson (Gosforth Academy, Houghton RUFC)

10 Charlie Dinneen (Kirbie Kendal School, Kendal RUFC)

9 Joe Syson (Northfield School & Sports College, Billingham)

1 Aiden Binks (Bede Sixth Form, Stockton RUFC)

2 Ben Hyndman (Gosforth Academy, Billingham)

3 Alfie Booth (Gosforth Academy, Novocastrians)

4 George Bolam (Durham School, Durham City)

5 Lauchlan Hill (Gosforth Academy, Billingham)

6 Euan Oakes (Durham School, Durham City)

7 Matty Hogan (Durham School, Durham City)

8 Will Graham (Dame Allan’s, Percy Park)

Replacements

16 Harry Bellamy (Sedbergh School)

17 Nathan Rickerby (Keswick School, Keswick RFC)

18 Spencer Moore (Sedbergh School)

19 Joe Browell (High Tunstall College, Billingham)

20 Max Lyon (Gosforth Academy, Blaydon RFC)

21 Jonathon Broadbent

22 Fin Lawless (Gosforth Academy, Blaydon RFC)

23 Idris Morgan (Gosforth Academy, Kendal RUFC)

24 Matthew Cooke (Sedbergh School)

27 Oliver Byass (Loretto School, Berwick Rugby)

28 Alfie Warwick (Nelson Thomlinson, Wigton)

29 Jonny Douglas (Gosforth Academy, Tynedale)