Quins takes points in Twickers thriller
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:48
Harlequins edged London rivals Saracens 24-21 in the second match of the traditional Twickenham double header, as they started their 2008/09 Guinness Premiership on a winning note.
Saracens enjoyed the better of the possession in a match played in front of a record crowd of 52,087 at the London double header, but were unable to make it count and chances were missed in the first half to cross the line.
Sarries overcame a slow start to take a lead early in the second half, but a 13-point blitz by Quins eventually sealed a thrilling win for them.
Quins showed early that they meant business, with an unconverted try by England flyer Dave Strettle in the first minute putting them into the lead.
The try, in reality, was as much about Strettle - dropped from the senior England squad after a difficult summer tour to New Zealand, both on and off the field - sending a message to new England manager Martin Johnson as it was about getting Quins on the front foot.
It came from a close-range scrum - with the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) having a direct influence, as defenders are now forced to line up five metres behind the hind foot of the scrum - with Quins scrumhalf Danny Care having plenty of space to attack the blindside and send Strettle over in the right corner.
Saracens' decision to start with Chris Jack at blindside flank was experimental and there was little the All Black lock could do against such an incisive attack.
It took Saracens almost 20 minutes to post their first points, a Glen Jackson penalty, but Quins flyhalf Nick Evans - who had missed the earlier conversion - slotted a penalty to restore his team's five-point lead.
Jackson landed his second penalty two minutes from half-time to make it 8-6 in favour of Quins at the break.
Adam Powell put Saracens into the lead for the first time with a 60-metre solo try early in the second-half, but that sparked Quins back into life.
Wing Ugo Monye put Quins back into the lead in the 51st minute, with a try converted by Evans - who also slotted a penalty five minutes later and a drop-goal in the 58th minute as his team raced into a 21-11 lead with a 13-point blitz in just seven minutes.
Former captain Neil de Kock pulled one back for Sarries, when the scrumhalf scored his team's second try in the 64th minute - putting the game back in the melting pot.
The conversion by Jackson pulled Sarries back to within three points.
A penalty by Quins replacement Waisea Luveniyali and another by Jackson saw the score at 24-21 in favour of Quins as the game moved into the last 10 minutes.
Try as they might, Sarries could not close the gap any further and Quins took the points - while Sarries had to settle for the consolation of a solitary bonus point.
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Powell, De Kock
Con:
Jackson
Pens: Jackson 3
For Harlequins:
Tries: Strettle, Monye
Con: Evans
Pens: Evans 2, Luveniyali
DG: Evans
The teams:
Saracens: 15 Dan Scarbrough, 14 Francisco Leonelli, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Michael Owen, 7 David Seymour, 6 Chris Jack, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Nick Lloyd.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Andy Saull, 19 Ben Skirving, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Rodd Penney.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Will Skinner (captain), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Tani
Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 John Brooks, 18 Jim Evans, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Waisea Luveniyali, 22 Epi Taione.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
