Swiel steals the show as makeshift Quins ride injury storm
HARLEQUINS showed huge determination and spirit to defend their unbeaten home record in the Premiership against a fired-up Sale who scored three tries and arguably did enough for a draw.
Quins, though, were not to be denied and having overcome three serious injuries in the first 20 minutes did remarkably well to compose themselves. Until lunchtime the ageless Adam Jones was expecting to coach the forwards, then he was needed on the bench and finally he put in a cracking 60 minute shift.
The first half was disjointed, frantic, abrasive and highly entertaining with the action starting just before kick-off with the late withdrawal of Joe Marler with a lingering calf injury.
That was just the start of Quins injury problems with both props – Owen Evans and Will Collier – being helped off while Nick Evans lasted just five minutes on his return after breaking his hand last month. This time he took a heavy knock in midfield while and although jogging off happily enough failed his HIA.
Unsurprisingly Quins struggled initially to reorganise and the visitors should have cashed in a little more. After Tim Swiel and Will Addison swapped a brace of penalties apiece Sale went into the lead through Denny Solomona after a big bust by Addison who was enjoying a quietly impressive afternoon.
Solomona should have scored a second there and then but got just in front of the passer after a glorious passage of pay had seen Sale at their best. It was a costly moment which seemed to ignite Quins as half-time approached.
First, Mike Brown and James Chisholm combined nicely and made good ground up the middle to send Charlie Walker under the posts with Swiel’s conversion levelling up the scores before the young utility back made another telling intervention.
From the restart Danny Care hoisted the ball and Marland Yarde who hitherto had been chasing but not contesting the ball decided he could challenge legally. Rising high he deflected the ball down to Swiel with the space suddenly opening up and the try line beckoning 70 yards away.
Swiel is comfortably the quickest sprinter at Quins, leaving the wings Tim Visser, Marland Yarde and Chalie Walker in his wake, so he needed no second invitation and the result was a try under the posts.
It was a dramatic turnaround and Quins added another three points after the break through Swiel but Sale were still playing well and responded with a patiently worked try from Byron McGuigan.
Quins seemed to have made the game safe with another brace of penalties by Swiel, but Sale wanted and deserved something out of the game and after Addison kicked his third penalty were rewarded when Solomona score a try for the ages.
TJ Ioane’s speculative kick to the right wing was not only read beautifully by Solomona, but he picked the ball off his toes on the half volley without breaking stride. It was an extraordinary effort and if Sale can keep it fluid their season should improve.