Quins maintain fast start with Bristol win
Harlequins .......... 49pts Bristol .................... 12pts
HARLEQUINS put nine tries past Bristol at the Stoop as they ran out comfortable winners.
Six tries came in the first half with Laura Dowsett opening the scoring. Alex Hardy scored twice in the first 40 with Fiona Pocock, Shaunagh Brown and scrum-half Leanne Riley diving over the line as well.
The match got off to a quick start with Quins being awarded a penalty within the first three minutes, but Jess Wooden’s kick was blown wide by the wind and the match stayed level.
After a break in the Bristol defence Dowsett was first to have her name added to the scoresheet but the try would not be converted.
Two minutes later, Brown drove through the Bristol defence from her own half before great play from the team led to Alex Hardy scoring her first of the match. Wooden converted and Quins led 12-0 with less than ten minutes played.
Another seven points came 13 minutes later with Pocock scoring her first, Wooden converting to make the score 19-0. Bristol fought back and broke down the Harlequins Ladies defence with Carys Phillips scoring and getting the visitors off the mark.
But Quins hit back with Brown adding to the try tally – Wooden’s conversion flying just wide and the score remaining at 24-5 with just 20 minutes played.
Bristol kept attacking Quins and Kate Newton got over the line with captain Amber Reed converting for 24-12.
Harlequins then applied the pressure and forced Bristol back onto their own tryline before the ball was knocked into touch.
But some quick play allowed Hardy in to score her second of the match – the conversion going wide.
Riley then got her first try of the match to allow Quins to go into the break 34-12 up.
And five minutes into the second half England international Abbie Scott added to the points.
With just under an hour gone Pocock scored her second of the match with an incredible interception from her own half.
Riley wrapped up the points for Harlequins and put the gloss on a comfortable win which keeps them top of the pile, one point clear of fellow unbeaten side Saracens.