OPENING THE GAP: SARACENS 19 - 24 HARLEQUINS

Committed defence of the highest quality combined with determined and precise attacks that fashioned three good tries produced a victory over Saracens at Wembley by 19 – 24 and opened a gap of six points at the top of the Premiership table.  A home semi-final play-off looms ever nearer!

Harlequins started by giving away an early penalty, but gathered themselves and began to attack.  A fine break through the midfield by Nick Easter, supported by Marler, took play almost to the Saracens’ twenty-two where quick, accurate passing and ball retention saw Jordan Turner-Hall crash over for the first try in the fourth minute,  Nick Evans duly added the extra points for a 0 – 7 lead.

Over the next fifteen minutes Harlequins contrived to give away a series of penalties and three were within range of Owen Farrell’s boot so that the early lead was eroded.  Saracens, too, were mounting determined attacks and a fine try-saving tackle by George Robson on Short prevented them increasing the lead.

Then a series of picks and drives up the centre of the pitch again took the attack to Saracens as Harlequins retained possession and threatened the line,  Finally the ball was moved wider and there was Lowe to dummy and then pirouette out of Goode’s tackle to touch down for the second try, again converted by Evans.  Quins led 9 – 14 after twenty-two minutes.

But now the Quins’ forwards began to add to Saracens’ problems.  Penalties were awarded at the scrum and Marler and Johnson were wreaking havoc.  Both Evans and Farrell missed with penalty attempts and there was no further score until a stupid penalty was conceded close to the Quins’ line, allowed Farrell to narrow the lead with the final kick of the half.

Rory Clegg took over from an injured Nick Evans at half-time and promptly missed with a penalty from wide out.  But when the scrum produced a penalty in front of the Saracens’ posts immediately afterwards Clegg extended the lead to 12 – 17. Now Saracens’ sought to up their pace and attack but unforced errors and final passes into touch frustrated their endeavours.  Then, as the match moved into the final quarter, Quins scored their third try.

A series of determined carries with some fine work by Mike Brown and support from Tom Guest produced a substantial overlap and a simple run in for Danny Care.  Clegg added the extras and Quins’ lead was 12 – 24.  

Saracens now began to throw everything they could into the battle and a yellow card for Marler was encouragement as Quins were reduced to fourteen men. Saracens continued to commit unforced errors as they tried to attack in the face of Quins’ obdurate defence.  There were also at least three notable try-saving tackles.  First Williams and Lowe forced Michael Tagicackibau into touch at the corner flag.  Then Lowe took Wyles into touch as he was in the act of touching down.  There was also a marvellous ankle tap on a flying Wray barely five metres from the line by James Johnson!

Then a yellow card for Danny Care reduced Quins to thirteen for a couple of vital minutes as Saracens had a five-metre scrum. Richard Wrigglesworth, returning from injury, broke from the back of the scrum to score a try which Farrell converted and reduced the lead to the final score of 19 – 24. When Marler returned, so too did Dickson in place of Guest and still with fourteen men Quins defence was tremendous.  A penalty gave Clegg a chance to make matters safe, but the ball was just outside the right post. Finally, and with less than two minutes on the clock, a yellow card for Easter left a frenzied period as Saracens threw in everything for the win, but Quins held firm for a famous victory.

Saracens A Goode; D Strettle, C Wyles, O Farrell, J Short (M Tagicakibau, 58); C Hodgson, N de Kock (R Wigglesworth, 51); M Stevens, S Brits, C Nieto (M Vunipola, 49), S. Borthwick (capt), M Botha (G Kruis, 58), J Melck (J Wray, 58), E Joubert, W Fraser.

Harlequins M Brown; T Williams, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, S Smith; N Evans (R Clegg, 40), D Care; J Marler, R Buchanan, J Johnston, O Kohn (T Vallejos, 72), G Robson, M Fa'asavalu (T Guest, 54; M Lambert, 62-72; K Dickson, 72), N Easter, C Robshaw (capt).

Referee G Garner (London).