Harlequins fight back for thrilling win – again

Gallagher Premiership

Harlequins showed true champions’ spirit as they conjured yet another dramatic second-half fightback to clinch a bonus-point victory.

Senior coach Tabai Matson was thrilled to see his side prove they can continue to pick up Premiership victories without England quartet Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant, Joe Marler and Alex Dombrandt.

Late tries by replacement scrumhalf Scott Steele and Luke Northmore finished off the latest recovery as Quins fought back from 16-0 down at half-time to score 26 unanswered second-half points.

Matson, whose side remain third in the table but level on points with Saracens, said: “It was one of our most important victories because of the nature of the claw-back. We are missing our bunch of internationals and to get a bonus-point win is so big.

“It was a classic game of two halves, but I’m just happy we came out on top in the end.”

Matson revealed his team almost started the game without a No10 as third choice Will Edwards was injured in the warm-up and Danny Care was waiting in the wings to switch from scrum-half to help out. Quins were already without Smith and the injured Tommy Allan.

Matson said: “It was a bit unsettling. Will went down in the warmup with a twisted ankle but was fortunately OK to play. Danny was ready to step in if needed.”

Wasps were left kicking themselves after controlling the game and scoreboard for long periods. Hooker Gabriel Oghre’s try, converted by Jacob Umaga to add to his three penalties, rounded off one of several flowing first-half moves by the hosts, who lost full-back Ali Crossdale after he received an acciplaying dental knee to the head from Andre Esterhuizen and was stretchered off after 10 minutes of treatment.

Josh Bassett could have made life worse for Quins on the stroke of half-time but his try was ruled out for Will Porter’s forward pass during the move.

And it was a break that aided Quins’ second-half revival, which began with Care’s sublime back-ofthe-hand offload, which sent Tyrone Green over for the visitors’ first try.

Esterhuizen sent his fellow centre Northmore over for a second try and Harlequins sensed another crucial victory in the defence of their title. Steele then darted over from close range and it was left to Northmore to finish off the comeback victory with his second and Quins’ bonuspoint score.

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett said: “We paid the price for not taking more first-half chances and then letting them back into the contest.”