Sensational Quins sink Sarries
Harlequins looked champions in the making as they secured a hard-fought 24-19 victory over Saracens on Saturday.
By Simon Dilger
Last Updated: 31/03/12 6:42pm
Harlequins looked champions in the making as they secured a hard-fought 24-19 victory over Saracens on Saturday.
The league leaders moved six clear at the top of the table after a monumental battle between the Premiership's top two sides in front of a world record crowd of 83,761 at Wembley
Quins had to mount a frantic rearguard action to secure the win when they were they were forced to spend almost 20 minutes at the end of the match reduced to 14 men.
The league leaders had run in three tries earlier in the match through centres Jordan Turner-Hall and George Lowe, and scrum-half Danny Care.
But three of their players were sin-binned as they buckled under fierce and relentless pressure from the defending champions in the closing stages.
And it was only an outstanding defensive effort that kept out Sarries, whose only try came through relpacement Richard Wrigglesworth.
Sarries made a positive start but it was Quins who struck the first blow when they found themselves with a man over on the left inside their opponents' 22.
Errors
Nick Evans found the extra man with a fantastic speculative cut-out ball, batted over the top and into the hands of winger Sam Smith.
Smith made ground down the touchline before delivering the inside ball to Turner-Hall who barged over for the try.
Evans converted to put Quins 7-0 up after just three minutes but they soon relinquished their lead after a series of errors saw them concede three penalties in eight minutes.
Owen Farrell booted the nine points to put his side in front after 16 minutes but seven minutes later Quins hit back with a brilliantly constructed try to recapture the advantage.
After a series of pick-up and drives from the forwards scrum-half Danny Care span the ball out to his backs to find Lowe, who sold a great dummy to open up a gap before jinking his way through and forcing his way over the line.
Evans was bang on target with a tough kick make it 14-9 at the 23 minute mark but 10 minutes later he missed a chance to extend the lead with a long distance penalty.
Superb
Sarries ran the ball back out of their 22 and pushed into Quins territory where they were rewarded with a penalty after their opponents were pinged for obstruction.
But Farrell was unable to close the gap when he failed to find the distance with a 47 metre effort down the middle from just inside the Quins half.
The Sarries centre managed to close the gap with the last act of the half though, booting a three pointer to take his side into the break trailing by two points.
Evans was brought off two minutes into the second half and replacement fly half Rory Clegg wasted no time extending Quins' lead to five points as he booted a penalty to make it 17-12 on 45 minutes.
Quins' third try came 12 minutes later when quick ball from the base of a midfield ruck found full back Mike Brown, who delivered a superb offload to Tom Guest.
The replacement flanker, who had been on the field for just two minutes, made good ground up the centre before putting Care over for the try.
Fierce
Clegg converted to make it 24-12 but within four minutes Quins found themselves reduced to 14 men when Marler was sent to the sin bin.
With just 18 minutes to go Saracens pushed hard to make the advantage pay but a ferocious defensive effort from Quins kept them out.
Michael Tagicakibau was bundled out at the try line in the left corner on 66 minutes and moments later Chris Wyles was denied by the tv official on the opposite side .
Quins looked in big trouble though when they lost a second man to the sin bin with just 10 minutes to go.
Danny Care was the guilty part as Harlequins buckled under fierce pressure from the defending champions only inches from their line.
Wrigglesworth crashed over from the resulting penalty and Farrell added the extras to make it 24-19 and leave his side needing a converted try to win with just nine minutes on the clock.
Nick Easter became Quins' third yellow card as the game entered the final minute but they were able to hang on in the dying seconds to secure the win.
