Quins power through to final
Harlequins .......... 22pts Wasps ...................... 7pts
HARLEQUINS put in a consummate performance at the Stoop to beat London rivals Wasps and book their place in the Tyrrells Premier 15s final.
With a narrow lead from the first leg, Harlequins made light work of their London rivals at a packed Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins’ try-scoring loosehead prop Vickii Cornborough said: “We came out today with the goal of getting in to the final.
“We knew we had an absolutely massive challenge on us today, the scoreline last week against Wasps was level-pegging and it could have gone either way today.
“For me I always came from a running rugby background and so I feel comfortable ball in hand, give me a bit of space and I love to run with it!”
From the word go, both sides came out firing, but it took until the half hour mark for the deadlock to be broken.
Centre Stacey White, who had only recently come onto the field, clinically took her chance to go over for her side’s first try of the afternoon.
A few nerves had been settled but Harlequins missed the subsequent conversion.
The quartered shirts though soon extended their lead with another try on 34 minutes through full-back Jess Wooden.
With a dramatic dive in the corner, the American international put the hosts in control of the semi-final at the break.
After the interval, the home side again crossed the whitewash following a run from Deborah McCormack inside the Wasps 22.
Then, at 52 minutes, following a phenomenal 30-metre break from Cornborough which started in her own half, the Harlequins backs division spread the ball wide allowing Wooden to cross over for her second.
Trailing 22-0, Wasps, fought back and following a converted Danielle Waterman try on the hour mark, the crowd sensed a possible comeback from the visitors.
Quins, however, held on and finished the contest as convincing winners in front of over 1,000 fans. They will face Saracens in the final on April 29 at Ealing Trailfinders.