KISS IS FULL OF EMOTION
Harlequins 19
London Irish 22
By ADAM HATHAWAY LONDON IRISH head coach Les Kiss watched his side topple the reigning champs and admitted the upset came from the heart.
This was only the Exiles’ second win of the season – they have had three draws – and shot them up from 10th in the table to seventh.
The victory against free-scoring Quins was built on defence from the midfield of South African Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Aussie Curtis Rona, marshalled by fly-half Paddy
Jackson.
Irish went for the throat when they had the chance with hooker Agustin Creevy, lock Rob Simmons and replacement scrum-half Ben White going over.
Kiss said: “It was an emotional game for us.
“Emotion is a massive part of the game and that came through, and defence is all emotion.
“Our defensive line just kept turning up.
“They were great. And to get another win ratifies the work the boys are doing, trusting each other and trusting the game they are putting together.
“It was a great derby game and to get away from a draw is nice.”
Quins, who led 14-10 at half-time, managed three tries of their own but if they had converted all their possession and territory into points would have racked up a cricket score.
Boss Tabai Matson moaned: “Any time you lose at home it’s frustrating.
“When we got up in the first half we definitely had opportunities to keep moving the scoreboard but we didn’t exit well and had a high penalty count.”
Quins rested Marcus Smith and saw his understudy Tommy Allan go off just before the break with a shoulder injury, but the comeback kings could still have snatched the win.
Simmons and White looked to have put the game to bed.
Quins sniffed a chance with wing Cadan Murley bursting through in the dying minutes.
But somehow Irish clung on to claim the bragging rights.