Ojo’s experience vital for triumphant Irish

The Jeremiahs who predicted that London Irish would make an immediate return to the Championship will have to think again.

Inspired by a stunning try from Topsy Ojo and a combative performance display from Scotland flanker Blair Cowan, the Exiles celebrated their return to the top flight with a deserved bonus-point win.

Irish were unrecognisable from the side relegated 16 months ago playing a brand of rugby that was conservative and predictable. A season in the Championship allowed a new coaching team led by former England lock Nick Kennedy to bed in and for the players to develop a more ambitious game.

“As a club we are building,” Kennedy said. “We have taken the opportunity to build as much as possible – off the field as well as on it – building our game, our culture and environment.”

Former England wing Ojo was one of those who rose to the challenge of playing outside the Premiership for the first time. His try yesterday completed an audacious counter-attack started by James Marshall’s crossfield kick from his 22. Ojo gathered it, linked with centre Fergus Mulchrone and raced over for the 46th Premiership try of his career.

Cowan’s disruptive work at the breakdown set up Tommy Bell, who also kicked 19 points, for the second.

Harlequins contributed to their own downfall. They were twice reduced to 14 men in the second half when Demetri Catrakilis, then Mike Brown were sin-binned, and Irish punished them by scoring 18 points in those periods.

“The discipline cost us,” said Quins’ director of rugby John Kingston.