Quins have lots to work on still admits Gustard

HARLEQUINS supremo Paul Gustard admitted his side had “lots to work on” after this scrappy win over a determined Ealing outfit who were far from outclassed.

Gustard’s men opened up a 12-3 half-time lead courtesy of tries from Luke Wallace and Joe Marler, who produced a rampaging display in front of watching England boss Eddie Jones.

However, they were never able to shake off dogged Ealing, who reduced the arrears through Rayn Smid’s try and missed chances to draw level before Renaldo Bothma’s late score added gloss to a mistakeriddled Quins performance ahead of their Premiership opener against Sale.

“We made too many errors,” Gustard lamented. “Our discipline cost us a little bit and it was difficult to generate any momentum. We defended pretty well in the first half and were physical, which I was pleased with.

“I was pleased with the individual performances of Mike Brown, Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw after they’d been away with England. Marler’s a big, strong guy who’s just got to believe in himself and carry the ball effectively. His tackles were good and that’s a big strength of his.”

Ealing dominated the opening exchanges but Sam Dickinson knockedon and Quins made him pay, with Wallace finishing from Brown’s pass after good work from Nathan Earle.

Earle, looking sharp and exceedingly rapid, then combined with Joe Marchant before chasing his own grubber, but Ealing’s cover defence was good as David Johnston tracked back.

Johnston’s penalty put Ealing on the board before Harlequins finally built up a head of steam in the minutes before half-time, forcing a series of drives from Elia Elia, Robshaw and Dino Lamb that created space for quick-thinking Danny Care to send Marler under the posts.

A tropical deluge did nothing for continuity, but Ealing hit back on 51 minutes when, after Stan South was yellow-carded for killing the ball, visiting hooker Alun Walker spotted space down the blindside and sent Smid over.

Marcus Smith replied with a penalty but Ealing forced three successive close-range scrum penalties. However, Guy Armitage knocked-on, enabling Quins to escape and re-establish a modicum of control, which culminated in Bothma’s score.

Ealing head coach James Buckland said: “It was a committed performance. There were glimpses that we can put a game together.”