Herron hits late winner to complete rescue job
BRETT Herron’s late penalty enabled Harlequins to pull victory out of the fire at the end of a rip-roaring contest in Reading.
London Irish blew countless attacking opportunities to win but it was Quins – down to 13 men at one stage – who now head Pool 2.
James Lang gave Harlequins a first minute lead before Irish replied through Terrence Hepetema and Saia Fainga’a to take control. However, Gabriel Ibitoye’s brilliant solo effort and an Alex Dombrandt finish drew Quins level before Herron’s 78th minute strike.
Delighted Quins boss Paul Gustard said: “We showed resilience and fortitude in adversity and scored three really good tries in open field. I was happy with our resolute defence and when our attack had the ball it was dangerous.”
A perfect start for Quins saw Cadan Murley make ground from a wellrehearsed lineout routine before sending in Lang.
Irish, with Paddy Jackson and Curtis Rona making things tick, responded with an impressive period of pressure and, after Quins forwards Simon Kerrod and Stephan Lewies were sinbinned in quick succession for a body check and sacking a ruck respectively, Hepetema crashed over.
Short-handed Quins responded admirably, Herron notching a penalty after Irish failed to roll away, before enjoying an escape when Pat Cilliers butchered an overlap after good work from Jackson, Rona and Ben Loader.
Kerrod and Lewies returned but Irish upped the ante and, after Rona almost scored in the corner from Loader’s reverse pass, Jack Musk overthrew the resultant lineout and Fainga’a pounced for an opportunist try.
With Jackson controlling affairs, Irish came again and their first scrum put-in produced a penalty, converted by the Ireland fly-half for a 15-8 half-time lead.
Irish attacked hard from the restart and, following George Nott’s fine turnover, Ross Chisholm had to be alert to repel Loader’s chip.
A sixth Quins lineout
loss gave the Exiles prime possession, after which Jackson booted a penalty deep. However, Quins dug in and gained a numerical advantage when Fainga’a saw yellow for obstruction.
Having been on the back foot, Quins struck immediately when Ibitoye showed his class with a mazy, fleetfooted run to the line.
Back came Irish, Jackson stroking over a penalty after Musk held on in the tackle, but Quins sensed a chance and Ibitoye surged on to Chisholm’s pass before laying off to Martin Landajo, who sent Dombrandt flying over.
With the scores tied at 1818, a thrilling finish ensued and Irish looked to have won it when Ollie HassellCollins raced clear from Jackson’s pass, only for Chisholm to track back and pull off a brilliant trysaving tackle.
Chisholm’s heroics were followed by an equally fine turnover from Musk to set up a final Quins attack and when Irish came in at the side, Herron slotted the angled winning kick from 45m.
Irish supremo Declan Kidney said: “There were lots of plusses but we left several opportunities behind and need to learn how to manage those situations better.”