Quins edge thriller at Stoop
George Robson's first-ever Guinness Premiership try sentenced leaders Gloucester to a 30-25 defeat at Harlequins.
Last Updated: 01/03/08 10:03pm
George Robson's first-ever Guinness Premiership try sentenced leaders Gloucester to a 30-25 defeat at Harlequins in an enthralling game at the Twickenham Stoop.
It had seemed for long periods that Gloucester's individual brilliance would win out over a cracking team performance from Quins who bossed the game for long spells, but Robson popped up five minutes from time to swing the match decisively in their favour.
Dean Ryan's men did secure a bonus point, running in four tries courtesy of Jack Adams, Iain Balshaw, Anthony Allen and James Simpson-Daniel, but ultimately the wayward goal-kicking of Willie Walker was to cost them dear.
Quins scored first-half tries through Ceri Jones and Mike Brown to ensure they stayed right in the contest and Robson's late try proved enough to secure a first league victory over the Cherry and Whites in seven years.
The hosts made the faster start with Gloucester indebted to Lesley Vainikolo for an outstanding try-saving tackle on the marauding Hal Luscombe who had seemed certain to touch down next to the posts.
Adrian Jarvis did get Quins on the board first with a penalty on the quarter-hour mark, but Gloucester responded almost instantly with their first try, centre Jack Adams rumbling three-quarters the length of the pitch after Walker had charged down a Jarvis kick.
Walker missed the conversion and Quins wasted no time in reclaiming the lead as Ugo Moyne's terrific burst towards the line allowed prop Jones to bulldoze over from close range.
End-to-end
A crazy five-minute spell then saw Gloucester score their second try and a beauty it was from Balshaw. Peter Buxton was inspiration for the visitors, firstly setting Vainikolo on his way with a pass out wide, the second-rower was then on hand to receive the winger's offload before floating a wonderful ball inside to Balshaw who raced between defenders to touch down.
This time Walker did add the conversion and a penalty from the same player on the half hour eased his side five points clear at 15-10.
Gloucester looked to have taken a stranglehold on the match when, having been largely anonymous for the opening 35 minutes, Simpson-Daniel demonstrated his attacking quality as he came into the line off his wing on a beautiful line before slipping a pass to Allen who dived over in the corner.
Although Walker missed another kick, Quins looked to be heading in at the interval ten points down, but Brown pinched what proved a crucial score as he picked up from scrum-half at a ruck and darted through a gap in the Gloucester defence to score a try under the posts that Jarvis converted to buoy home spirits.
Perhaps inevitably after such a breathless first half, the second took some time to scale similar heights with Jarvis' second penalty on 54 minutes to tie the scores the only significant action in the opening 17 minutes.
However, Simpson-Daniel reignited the contest as he cut another wonderful line through the Quins defence, bursting between Moyne and substitute De Wet Barry to accelerate away to the line for the try that confirmed Gloucester's bonus point.
Once again, Walker failed with the conversion and Jarvis got his side back within striking distance with his third penalty on 71 minutes to make the score 25-23 before he made way for Chris Malone.
That set up a grandstand finish and a fantastic match got the climax it deserved when Robson - also on as a substitute - hit the line at pace to receive Luscombe's pass before powering over, Malone adding the extras to close out the game.
