Unbeaten Harlequins are in seventh heaven
HARLEQUINS have secured seven bonus point wins in a row with a seven try thriller over Gloucester Hart pury at Surrey Sports Park to remain top of the Tyrrells Premier 15s table.
Gloucester-Hartpury got the match underway and piled on the pressure from the start by dominating the first five minutes of play before Quins pounced and a dummy run from scrumhalf Leanne Riley got the first points on the board in the first six minutes.
Possession was then back in the hands of the visitors and they levelled the score line with a try by Sarah Bern. Gloucester got the conversion and led the match by just two points.
The home side were quick to get points back on the board and regained the lead with a first try of thematch for birthday girl Jess Breach, Quins opening up a 10-7 lead.
With half an hour gone, the third try of the match was scored by Shaunagh Brown who powered through the Gloucester defence. Jess Wooden's conversion was stopped by the posts and bounced off the crossbar.
Six minutes later Breach got her second of the match making the score 20-7 just before half time.
Time off for an injury to second row Rebecca Rowe who had to be stretchered off with a knee injury ended the first 40 with Quins firmly in the lead.
Gloucester came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and made a quick break to the Quins line which resulted in a penalty and yellow card for Breach, and on 44 minutes Gloucester opened the scoring in the second half. The conversion was missed and the score was 20-12.
Harlequins hooker Davinia Catlin then got her first of the match. The conversion was scored by Wooden, extending their lead to 27-12.
On the hour mark it was anyone's match with both teams piling on the pressure as the rain began to pour.
Gloucester made a break in their own half and powered towards the Quins line before a brilliant tackle by Fiona Pocock took down Bern to prevent a try.
A brilliant set piece by Quins saw Natasha Bradshaw race to the Gloucester 22 before an offload to Catlin saw her get her second of the match.
Right before the end, Brown broke through the visitors defence and picked up her second try.