Quins get a Green light
LONDONERS STAGE STUNNING COMEBACK
at Ashton Gate
HARLEQUINS staged the greatest comeback in Premiership history to book a Grand Final date with Exeter.
The Londoners, 28-0 down inside half an hour, came back from the dead with five unanswered tries to force extra-time at Ashton Gate.
They then completed the job with Tyrone Green and Joe Marchant scoring as Quins broke Bristol hearts to become the first away team for six years to win a play-off semi-final.
Quins legend Ugo Monye hailed the epic contest as “one of the most remarkable 104 minutes of rugby I‘ve ever seen in my life”.
Man-of-the-match Green agreed: “That was the most crazy game I’ve ever been a part of – and the best.”
Bristol had led the league since round six and were told by boss Pat Lam to not be satisfied with finishing the regular season on top.
For 28 minutes they rampaged, scoring a point a minute, dazzling and devastating in equal measure. Quins were caught in a hurricane.
Ben Earl plundered the opening try and England team-mate Max Malins quickly added two more on a day he would claim the first hat-trick
in play-off history. When Luke Morahan bagged a fourth, Quins were facing utter humiliation.
They couldn’t catch a break. Aaron Morris pulled a hamstring kicking the ball. Louis Lynagh scored only to have it chalked off for a foot in touch.
But then, finally, Bristol made a mistake. Malins dropped a high ball, Alex Dombrandt picked up and ran it in. A ray of light pierced their darkness. Lam’s team that left for half-time did not return – but Quins were calm.
“Our message was
‘stay in the fight, give yourselves a chance’,” manager Billy
Millard said.
Shortly after the restart they scored again, Green going over after razor-sharp thinking by Marcus Smith and Danny Care.
James Chisholm came off the bench to claim a third and, before Bristol could get a handle on the unfolding calamity, the impressive Lynagh made it four.
Now Bristol were clinging on for dear life – and five minutes from time they were pulled under as Marchant scored to force extra-time.
There was only ever going to be one winner from there and a try in each half by Green and Marchant
sparked wild celebrations. “Sport is about emotion,” World Cup winner Dallaglio said
“It’s about love, it’s about hate and every emotion in between. At halftime we had two emotions: agony and ecstasy. We had one team that was just so far out in front you worried for Harlequins they might be humiliated.”
BRiSTOl: Tries: Earl, Malins (3), Morahan Pens: Sheedy (3) Con: Sheedy HARlEQuiNS: Tries: Dombrandt, Green (2), Chisholm, Lynagh, Marchant (2) Cons: Smith (4)