All To No Avail

It was an epic game at The Stoop which was, in the end, deservedly won by Bristol. The prize before kick off for the victor was dangling temptingly in front of both clubs with the top two clubs very unlikely to lose. However, both Saints and Sarries did just that.

So,  Quins finish sixth and Bristol fifth with Sale taking that top 4 spot courtesy of their 20-10 win at Sarries.

It's no consolation to Quins supporters who witnessed a tremendous game which ebbed and flowed in the first half.  A storming second half from  Bristol saw them take the game 53-28, and that was despite loising three key players early in the game in the shape of Ellis Genge, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Callum Sheedy

The visitors went in at the break 21-14 up thanks to tries from James Williams,  Genge and the superbly quick Gabriel Ibitoye. Chandler Cunningham-South and Alex Dombrandt both crossed to keep the game very much alive only for Bears to turn up the pressure in the second half.

Quins did get a try bonus point thanks to Luke Northmore and a second effort for Cunningham-South.

But the home defence couldn't stop Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, Noah Heward and Gabriel Oghre  from taking the game away from Quins with head coach Danny Wilson telling the media: "Fair play to Bristol, they ran everything, challenged us around the fringes, challenged us wide and we got cut to ribbons. "