Jonny Wilkinson's injury hoodoo struck again as his Newcastle comeback was cut short in the Zurich Premiership defeat against Harlequins at The Stoop.

England's World Cup hero looked to be in fine form, kicking two penalties and converting Semo Setiti's opportunist try.

But in the 34th minute Wilkinson, making his comeback from a knee injury, took a heavy knock on the knee while making a tackle and had to be helped off the field.

Quins went on to establish a 23-13 half-time lead and held firm after the break to claim a win which lifts them to eighth in the table.

Quins fly-half Jeremy Staunton opened the home side's account with two penalties and then converted a George Harder try. Winger Harder took a Tony Diprose offload from the back of a ruck as Quins pressurised the Newcastle try line.

Prop Jim Evans increased Quins' lead with another try as Newcastle's defence buckled under the strain. Staunton added the conversion and then a penalty to give Quins a 10-point advantage at the break.

Centre Mark Mayerhofler managed to put the Falcons back in the reckoning with a 41st-minute try, and Dave Walder added the conversion.

But Quins regained control, with Tani Fuga driving over the line from a well-worked line-out catch-and-drive manoeuvre.

Full-back Tom Williams then claimed the all-important bonus point with try number four on the right wing, thanks to another spot-on pass from Harder.

Staunton missed the conversion but later slotted his third penalty of the afternoon to ease Quins to victory and their highest standing in the league so far this season.