Quins edge Sarries infront of record crowd

Saracens 21 – 24 Harlequins

By Danny Coyle at Twickenham

Harlequins survived a late onslaught from Saracens to seal a nervy victory over Saracens at Twickenham.

England wing David Strettle opened his account for the season inside the first five minutes to give Dean Richard’s men a dream start but they were unable to capitalise on their early momentum and Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson hit back with a penalty midway through the half.

New Quins fly-half Nick Evans matched his effort from 40 metres to restore the five-point lead but from that point on it was the Men in Black who took command of the half.

New No.8, Welsh international Michael Owen came closest to scoring before being hauled down short of the line and it was left to Jackson to narrow the gap once again with a penalty two minutes before the break.

Sarries hit the front for the first time less than three minutes into the second half when youngster Adam Powell burst through a gap in the Quins midfield and raced 35 metres to score, but Jackson could only hit the post with the conversion.

It was a sublime, worked move that got Harlequins back in the game when Tani Fuga launched his lineout throw clean over the heads of his forwards where it fell into the hands of the quick-thinking Danny Care.

The scrum-half slipped an outrageous reverse pop pass into the arms of the onrushing Ugo Monye, who seared through the cavernous hole in the Saracens rearguard and was celebrating, Usain Bolt-style, a full ten metres before the try line.

Evans struck a penalty and followed up with a drop goal and in the blink of an eye Quins had turned a three-point deficit into a ten point advantage.

With 15 minutes remaining Saracens were back in the game when a break down their right saw Chris Jack, playing in the unfamiliar blindside position, galloped down the wing before checking and throwing two defenders off the scent and feeding Neil de Kock on the inside to score.

It was a double blow for Quins who lost the influential Evans as Jackson knocked over the extras.
His replacement Waisea Luveniyali quickly settled nerves with a penalty but the margin was back to three on 70 minutes after Jackson’s second penalty success.

Waisea Luveniyali missed with his next effort but time was against Eddie Jones’s side who launched a last gasp siege of the Quins 22.

The multicoloured men are made of sterner stuff these days, though, and held on for the win.
Attendance: 52, 087