MARLER FELLED
WALES star Tommy Reffell wrecked Joe Marler’s big day and left Tabai Matson cursing his darkest hour at Harlequins.
The Leicester flanker scored two tries and denied Luke Northmore one back for Quins with a superb tackle as Tigers rediscovered their best form.
It was a performance of such dominance that the Londoners, aka rugby’s great entertainers, were 10 minutes from becoming the first Premiership team this season to fail to score a point.
“We were bested everywhere, they armwrestled that game completely off us,” said Quins head coach Matson.
On Marler, right, he said:“It was Joe’s 250th appearance and for him to have to put up with that is disappointing – it’s probably the worst I’ve felt.”
Reffell, 23, set the tone by crossing for his first try on six minutes.
When he bagged his second, Leicester were 17-0 up and in cruise control.
Tigers director of rugby Steve Borthwick said:m“Tommy is an incredible glue in this team. He reads the game brilliantly.”
This was a huge result for Leicester given they came in having been hit for 50 by Saracens and handed their first home league defeat in more than a year by Sale.
Quins finally got on the scoreboard in the 70th minute when Cadan Murley rounded off a slick first-phase move. That was quickly cancelled out by Anthony Watson’s interception score for the bonus point. Murley was not done, scoring a second in the final minute then going the length to set up Danny Care for Quins’ third. Matson later hailed him as the best left winger in the league.
QUINS – Tries: Murley (2), Care. Cons: Smith (2).
LEICESTER – Tries: Reffell (2), Montoya, Watson. Cons: Burns (2). Pen: Burns.