Champions Quins get started in style
HARLEQUINS began the defence of their title with a bonus point win over rivals Wasps Ladies yesterday, scoring six tries in the process.
Wasps opened the scoring with a tenth minute penalty but the remainder of the first half was all Quins. Tries to Shaunagh Brown, Jess Breach, Holly Myers and Heather Cowell gave the visitors the try bonus-point and a commanding 24-3 lead at the break.
Wasps fought back valiantly in the second spell with five tries of their own, but Myers and Breach both scored late as Harlequins held on to the win.
The visitors were under pressure early from the experienced Acton outfit and only a turnover on their own line kept the scores level in the opening minutes.
Wasps centre Hannah Edwards gave her side a 3-0 advantage with ten minutes played, but the Quins pack worked hard to get their side back into the encounter.
The outstanding Brown carried hard throughout and was rewarded with a try from the back of the maul in the 15th minute.
A few minutes later they extended their lead when England international Leanne Riley kick-started a counter attack that saw Breach go over in the corner.
The visitors backline were causing problems when they had time and space but it was the forward pack that earned them their third score in the 35th minute. A big scrum on the opposition five metre line won them a penalty and a Quins quick tap led to Myers ghosting in under the posts.
Before the half was up Cowell crossed for the bonus point try, after being on defence in their own 22 just two phases earlier, helping the champions to a 24-3 lead at the break.
As the second half began Wasps looked like an entirely new outfit and they quickly got back into the encounter led by powerful prop Katherine Hallet. The replacement front rower scored first from the driving maul before Abigail Dow charged down a kick to close the gap to 24-15.
It was a swarm of Wasps attack as they dominated territory and possession and on the hour mark they were rewarded again as Louise Dodd sliced through from a lovely set play, but the conversion from in front of the stick drifted wide.
The momentum was all with Wasps but Myers snagged an intercept try to give Harlequins some breathing room before Dow crossed for her brace which brought Wasps back to within six poitns with just seven minutes left to play.
But Breach scored again for to seal the Quins win despite Hallett getting her second for Wasps late on.