Quins back to winning ways with bonus point
HARLEQUINS got back to winning ways with a bonus point win at Surrey Sports Park over London rivals Wasps.
The visitors opened the scoring with a Hannah Edwards penalty before Leanne Riley scored a try to give her side a slender 5-3 lead at the break.
In the second half Harlequins’ territorial advantage proved too much for Wasps as tries from Fiona Pocock, Shaunagh Brown, Abbie Scott, as well as penalty try, set up an impressive 27-8 win in near freezing conditions.
Harlequins arrived at Surrey Sports Park following their first defeat of the season last Sunday against Saracens Women at the Stoop.
After beating Wasps in the opening match of the season they were looking to complete the double over the Twyford Avenue outfit but it was the visitors who got off to the better start and were rewarded with Edwards’ penalty.
Facing more pressure near their own line, England international Abbie Scott stole a huge lineout to send Harlequins down field and they began a spell of possession that would last much of the half.
Wasps’ hooker Amy Cokayne saw yellow after a series of infringements near their goal line and with the player advantage Quins eventually made it count as Riley completed a counter attack to score.
In the second half, Harlequins continued to play in the right areas and when Wasps tried to force a pass on their own line Fiona Pocock was on hand to intercept and touch down.
Wasps struck back thanks to scrum-half Christina Veale as they closed the gap to 10-8.
Full-back Natasha Bradshaw first went close before being held up but from the resulting scrum Jess Breach found space with a curling run around the blindside and Shaunagh Brown powered over a phase later just before the hour mark to make it 15-8 to the hosts.
The pack had become dominant at scrum time and ten minutes later they set up the bonus point try. Repeated close range attacks on the Wasps’ line saw the referee blow for a penalty try. Breach was shown yellow and Quins added a fifth try for good measure from Abbie Scott.