Van Gisbergen kicks Wasps to win over brave Quins

14 points from the Wasps number 15 helps the Champions to a hard fought victory and leave Quins with little to show for their gutsy display.

NEC Harlequins losing streak in the Zurich Premiership continued but their performance deserved more than a bonus point in losing out to arch-rivals London Wasps 19-16 at the Causeway Stadium. Despite conceding a try in the opening play of the game, Quins hit back to lead 13-10 at half-time. However, three second half penalties from Wasps full back Mark Van Gisbergen helped the home side to hold-on for a victory. No sooner had the game started then Quins found themselves seven points behind. Will Greenwood failed to gather the kick-off allowing Wasps winger Tom Voyce to gather the loose ball and be powered over the line, under the posts for the try. Van Gisbergen added the conversion to give the home team a dream start. Back came Quins and Jeremy Staunton’s opening penalty of the night put them on the scoreboard after ten minutes. With Simon Shaw sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul nine minutes later, Quins made the most of having an extra man advantage. Firstly, Staunton kicked the penalty that led to Shaw’s yellow card before Greenwood went over for the final try of the match with 24 minutes on the clock. Simon Keogh returned a loose clearance kick with interest and took play deep into the Wasps twenty-two. Despite the winger being tackled short of the line, Greenwood was in support to take the scoring pass and stroll over from close range. Staunton added the two extra points to put Quins into a six-point lead (13-7). Eight minutes before the interval and it was Quins turn to be reduced to 14 men with captain Andre Vos sin-binned for hands in the ruck. Van Gisbergen found the target with his kick at goal from the resulting penalty, which cut the deficit to three points at the halfway stage (10-13). Wasps were first on the scoreboard after the restart as Van Gisbergen converted his second penalty seven minutes into the half, with Quins penalised for being offside. As the game approached the final quarter, Luke Sherriff made a storming break into the Wasps twenty-two but was hauled down by Ayoola Erinle before being able to get his pass away, with Quins then wasting the good position they created after recycling possession. Moments later and it was George Harder’s turn to be sin-binned and Van Gisbergen put Wasps back in front from the penalty. Staunton tied the scores at 16-apiece 14 minutes from the end after good work from Nick Easter and Tani Fuga created the opportunity for a drop goal, which the Quins fly half gratefully accepted. Just three minutes later and Van Gisbergen kicked what would be the match winning penalty, with the visitors penalised for being offside after a drive from the Wasps pack had put the Quins defence on the back foot. In the time that remained, Quins threw everything they had at their opponents as they searched for the match winning try. Harder was held-up close to the line after taking a short ball from a scrum five metres out, while a long range drop goal attempt from Tom Williams was well wide of the target after Wasps cleared the danger. The final whistle came with an air of relief and frustration for the home and away supporters respectively. Final score, 19-16. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Castres hold on to deny Quins cup victory

Two tries for James but Quins let eight point lead slip that allows Castres to leave the Stoop with a draw.

NEC Harlequins were denied their first win of the season as Castres Olympique held-on for a share of the points in a 23-all draw at the Stoop. It’s a result that leaves Quins with much work to do if they are to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup. Dafydd James scored both of the home sides two tries while Jeremy Staunton kicked 13 points, but crucially missed two penalty attempts in the closing ten minutes that could have won Quins the match. It was the home side who opened the scoring with six minutes on the clock. Tom Williams made a break down the left flank, before Simon Keogh and Andre Vos carried the move into the Castres twenty-two. James was in support to take the scoring pass and dive over by the posts. Staunton converted though centre Richard Dourthe put Castres opening points on the board three minutes later with the first of six penalties. Good work from Williams and Tani Fuga led to Castres being caught offside and Staunton restored Quins seven point advantage from the resulting penalty. Two minutes into the second quarter and Quins were awarded another penalty after the pack had driven play from the Castres ten-metre line deep into their twenty-two. Staunton added the three points to Quins tally that put them into a ten-point lead (13-3). Dourthe converted his second penalty eight minutes before the break, and Quins then lost captain Andre Vos to a back injury and was replaced by Luke Sherriff. Winger Bradley Fleming and lock forward Rodrigo Capo Ortega combined to take play into Quins twenty-two, where it was the home sides turn to be penalised for being offside. Dourthe’s third successful kick of the half cut Quins lead to just four points at the halfway stage (13-9). Dourthe outscored Staunton two penalties to one in the opening eight minutes after the restart to move the score onto 16-15 in Quins favour, before James put further daylight between the two sides with his second try. Quins stole possession from a Castres lineout on the French sides twenty-two before Will Greenwood made a break in the midfield and his inside pass to his centre partner allowed James to touchdown under the posts unopposed. Staunton made no mistake with the simple conversion to give Quins an eight point lead (23-15). However, Castres hit back straight from the restart with Fleming starting off a move that he finished in the right hand corner, after Dourthe made the telling break through the midfield into the Quins twenty-two. The Castres centre missed the conversion from the touchline but then tied the scores at 23-apiece just before the final quarter began with his final penalty of the match. Quins looked the more dangerous side in the closing 20 minutes but couldn’t make any further impression on the scoreboard. The pack were held-up on the line following a catch and drive from a lineout, while Staunton missed his two kicks at goal after 70 and 73 minutes respectively, as Castres played out the final ten minutes with 14 men after number eight Paul Volley was sent to the sin bin. Final score, 23-23. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Brave Quins miss out at Munster

Quins narrowly miss out on historic victory, as Munster hold on to maintain their unbeaten home record in the Heineken Cup.

A fantastic second half display from NEC Harlequins was not enough to end Munster’s winning run at Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup, as the visitors lost out by 15-9. For the second week in a row, all of Quins points came from the boot of Jeremy Staunton who kicked three penalties. However, two first half tries from Munster were crucial in deciding the outcome. It was Staunton who put Quins in front after nine minutes, converting his first penalty after the home side were penalised at a scrum in front of the posts. Such were the problems at the set-piece that referee Hugh Watkins opted to send Quins Maurice Fitz Gerald and Munster’s Marcus Horan to the sin bin, believing that the two prop forwards were the main cause of the problem. With 14 minutes on the clock, Munster took the lead that they would never relinquish. A quickly taken free kick put the Quins defence on the back foot and with play spread wide to the left flank, winger Anthony Horgan was given a free run in to the corner. Ronan O’Gara pushed his conversion attempt across the face of the target but Munster now led 5-3. The home side continued to exert pressure inside the Quins half and the visitors were then reduced to 13 players as the game went into the second quarter, with Staunton shown the yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. With their man advantage, Munster scored their second try 15 minutes before half-time. The Quins pack seemed to be in control of possession as they drove their way out of their own half but at the resulting ruck, flanker Jim Williams broke free into the Quins twenty-two. Fellow back row forward Dennis Leamy was in support to take the scoring pass and had an unopposed route to the line. O’Gara added the two extra points and then converted a penalty a minute before the interval to give Munster a 12-point advantage at the break (15-3). Quins dominated the second half straight from the restart and with the half five minutes old Staunton doubled their score with a second penalty. Four minutes later and Quins created their best try scoring opportunity of the match. A patient build-up led to George Harder taking an inside ball and powering towards the line, only to be held-up by a combination of Williams and Cullen. Despite looking the better side, Quins failed to add to their tally and their cause was not helped when Ace Tiatia was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle as the game approached the final quarter. However, Quins held out with 14 men and with 13 minutes remaining, Staunton kicked his final penalty of the contest that set-up a grandstand finale. Quins best chance of snatching a dramatic victory came right at the death as Luke Sherriff and Tiatia combined to take play into the Munster twenty-two. The referee adjudged that the ball went forward in the move and denied Staunton from possibly scoring the match winning try. The final whistle followed moments later, much to the relief of the home side. Final score, 15-9.

 

 

Quins denied by defiant Tigers

Quins front up to the league leaders but fail to add to their first half tally, as Goode leads Leicester to victory.

NEC Harlequins are still searching for their first win of the Zurich Premiership season following a 15-9 defeat to Leicester Tigers at the Stoop. Five penalties from Tigers fly half Andy Goode against three from Jeremy Staunton proved to be the difference between the two sides, with the power of the visitors pack denying Quins possession and territory for the majority of the second half. It was Goode who opened the scoring after three minutes, converting his first penalty from the halfway line after Quins were guilty of hands in the ruck. Staunton responded in similar fashion just four minutes later to make the score 3-3, with the Tigers penalised at a set-piece scrum. Straight from the restart, Tani Fuga and Ceri Jones combined to take play just short of halfway but Andre Vos knocked the ball on. At the resulting scrum, it Quins turned to be penalised by referee Dave Pearson and Goode once again found the target with his kick at goal to restore the Tigers three-point advantage. Staunton had the opportunity to level the score on 14 minutes but saw his penalty kick fall short of the posts. As the game went into the second quarter, Goode’s third penalty attempt of the day came back off the upright, though he made amends moments later after a break from full back Geordan Murphy down the left flank caught Quins offside in midfield. The home sides response was immediate, with George Harder powering into the Leicester defence deep in their twenty-two. The visitors were guilty of going over the top at the ruck and allowed Staunton to cut the deficit back to three points (6-9). Ten minutes before the interval and Tigers flanker Neil Back was sent to the sin-bin for deliberately killing the ball and Staunton made no mistake with the penalty from in front of the posts, making the score nine-all. Despite being a man down, it was Leicester who came close to scoring a try. Centre Seru Rabeni thundered his way into the Quins twenty-two but a try saving tackle from Will Greenwood led to him knocking the ball forward five metres from the line. However, in first half injury time Goode was given the chance to put the Tigers back in front after Quins were again guilty of hands in the ruck. The fly half collected the three points on offer to make the score 12-9 to Leicester at the break. Quins made a positive start to the second half and a powerful drive from the pack took play into the Tigers twenty-two, though the move broke down after Staunton was well tackled by Goode. Ten minutes into the half and Goode put Leicester back into a six point lead; completing the scoring in the game with his fifth penalty of the afternoon after Quins were penalised for pulling down a rolling maul. In the time that remained, Quins struggled in both the lineout and the scrum that forced them to play much of the game inside their own half. Goode missed two further penalty kicks at goal, which would have denied Quins a bonus point; something their performance more than deserved. Final score, 9-15. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Quins let good start slip at Gloucester

Tries from Duffy and Greenwood not enough to get Quins back to winning ways at Kingsholm.

After building up a 10-0 lead early in the game, NEC Harlequins eventually lost out to Gloucester at Kingsholm by 29-23, to leave them still looking for their first league win of the season after six matches. Two second half tries from centre Terry Fanolua helped the home side to come away with the maximum five points, though a late penalty from Jeremy Staunton gave Quins the consolation of a bonus point their performance deserved. Indeed it was Staunton who opened the scoring after just four minutes, when he converted the first of three penalties in the match, after Gloucester were penalised for being offside. Good work from Ugo Monye then set-up the chance for Quins to score the opening try of the contest. After play was recycled through a number of phases, Gavin Duffy came into the line before diving over for the five points. Staunton converted from wide out and Quins had their ten-point advantage. The Cherry and Whites put their first points on the board after 15 minutes of play. With Quins penalised for hands in the ruck, centre Henry Paul made no mistake with his kick at goal to make the score 3-10. Ten minutes later and the deficit was down to just two points as winger James Simpson-Daniel collected Duncan McRae’s cross-field kick to touchdown in the corner for the home sides first try, though Paul missed the conversion. Quins responded with a second Staunton penalty to give them a five point lead (13-8) as the game approached half-time. However, persistent pressure from the home side resulted in Paul touching down under the posts just three minutes before the interval and his successful conversion meant Gloucester were in front for the first time, with the score standing at 15-13 in their favour at the break. Just two minutes after the restart and the hosts moved two scores ahead, as Fanolua claimed his first try after the forwards won a lineout deep inside the Quins twenty-two. The two points from Paul’s conversion put Gloucester nine points ahead (22-13). Quins hit back nine minutes later and from Nick Easter’s quickly taken free-kick, Will Greenwood was able to cut back inside to score under the posts. Staunton made no mistake with the simple conversion and the deficit between the sides was back to two points (22-20). However, straight from the restart Gloucester went over for their fourth try of the afternoon that would effectively prove to be the match winning score. Hooker Olivier Azam made the crucial ground down the right flank and with the Quins defence stretched, Fanolua was allowed to touchdown for the second time in the match. Paul’s conversion restored Gloucester’s nine-point lead (29-20) with 30 minutes left to play. Remarkably that’s how the score remained until the last kick of the game, though Paul and Staunton both missed chances to extend their respective sides tally. Then in the last play of the game, Quins were awarded a penalty and with Staunton making amends for his earlier miss, the visitors picked up a bonus point from their afternoons work. Final score, 29-23. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Quins slump to fifth straight defeat

Sanderson leads the way for Worcester, as Quins struggle once again.

NEC Harlequins suffered their fifth successive Zurich Premiership defeat of the season as newly promoted Worcester Warriors recorded their first win of the campaign, with a comprehensive 33-7 victory at Sixways. The home side scored five tries to come away with the maximum five points and leave Quins with much to think about, who for the second game in a row failed to add any further points to their half-time tally. Worcester dominated the opening exchanges and their early pressure was rewarded with a try for former Quin Pat Sanderson after ten minutes. The Worcester captain finished off a powerful drive from the pack, after they won a lineout ten metres from the Quins line. Fly half James Brown converted the score to put the home side seven points in front. Five minutes later and Worcester doubled their advantage. Will Greenwood lost the ball in the midfield, which allowed Matt Powell to break free down the left flank. The Worcester scrum half had centre Ben Hinshelwood in support and he had the pace to beat Gavin Duffy in the race to the corner, while Brown added the two extra points from wide out to make it 14-0. Back came Quins and from their first real attack of the game on 20 minutes, Luke Sherriff went over in the left hand corner after Tony Diprose and Ceri Jones set-up the opportunity from a lineout five metres out. Jeremy Staunton added the two extra points but then failed to cut the deficit further when he pushed a penalty attempt wide of the target from halfway three minutes before the break. Brown then had the chance to stretch Worcester’s lead though he also missed a penalty with the final kick of the half, which meant Quins trailed 14-7 at the interval. The second half was controlled by Worcester from the start and their third try came 15 minutes into the third quarter and whilst Quins were down to 14 men with Duffy in the sin-bin. From a scrum five metres from the line, Powell created the chance for replacement Siaosi Vaili to power over from close range. Brown converted to put Worcester two scores clear (21-7). Only some excellent Quins defence prevented the visitors from going further behind, but five minutes from the end and Worcester scored their fourth try of the afternoon to secure a bonus point. Once again the pack drove play up to the line after winning a lineout, allowing replacement hooker Lee Fortey to touchdown for the five points. Brown pushed his conversion attempt across the front of the posts, but Worcester were now comfortably in front by 26-7. A thoroughly miserable afternoon for Quins was completed when Brown ran-in unopposed in the final play of the game, after the visitors lost the ball deep in their twenty-two. Number eight Drew Hickey powered forward and Brown gratefully accepted the scoring pass before converting the try with the final kick of the match. Final score, 33-7. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Bath end their drought at the Stoop

Quins still looking for their first win, as Bath claim their first victory at the Stoop for five years.

Bath piled more misery on NEC Harlequins, who are still looking for their first Zurich Premiership victory of the season after losing to the West Country side by 18-10 at the Stoop. A try from replacement Kieron Lewitt on the stroke of half-time proved to be the turning point in the match as the visitors scored 15 unanswered points to take them to victory, with Quins failing to add to their first half tally. It was the first time Bath have won at the Stoop since September 1999. The visitors opened the scoring after four minutes. With Quins guilty of barging at a lineout, Olly Barkley converted the resulting penalty to put Bath three points ahead. However, Jeremy Staunton responded in similar fashion five minutes later after Bath were penalised at a scrum. Quins then took the lead by scoring the opening try of the contest three minutes into the second quarter. Tony Diprose intercepted possession from a Bath attack and released Simon Keogh, who kicked downfield. Bath winger Alex Crockett failed to clear the danger and Keogh had the simple task of touching down the loose ball. Staunton added the two extra points from the conversion to put Quins 10-3 in front, but it would prove to be their last points of the game. Barkley pushed a second penalty attempt wide of the target three minutes later, but the crucial score of the match came just before the interval. After Quins turned over the ball just inside the Bath half, a sweeping attack from the visitors led to Barkley releasing Lewitt down the left wing, who had the pace to get around Diprose and touchdown in the left hand corner. Barkley missed the conversion, making the score 10-8 to Quins at the break. Bath dominated the opening ten minutes of the second half and only some excellent defence prevented them from going over for their second try, though flanker Michael Lipman wasted a golden opportunity for the visitors. Staunton had a clearance kick charged down only for Lipman to knock the ball forward on the Quins line. However, 11 minutes into the half and a drop goal from fly half Chris Malone put Bath in front by a single point (11-10). Quins came perilously close to scoring straight from the restart after an excellent break from Staunton, but the home side were then penalised for accidental offside as the pack looked to drive their way over for the try. With 14 minutes remaining, the travelling supporters were celebrating their side’s second try of the afternoon. A patient build-up led to the space being created down the right flank for Best to give Andrew Higgins the scoring pass and an unopposed run in. Barkley’s successful conversion from close to the touchline put Bath two scores clear (18-10). Quins had their chances in the time remained to get back into the game, but on two occasions failed to capitalise when throwing into a lineout five metres from the Bath line. The margin of defeat also means Quins just missed out on a bonus point. Final score, 10-18. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

 

Quins fall short by a point at Newcastle

Second half fightback from the Falcons denies Quins a victory, as Wilkinson guides Newcastle to their third win in a row.

NEC Harlequins narrowly missed out on claiming their first Zurich Premiership victory of the season after losing out to Newcastle Falcons by 22-21 at Kingston Park. Tries from George Harder and Gavin Duffy put Quins into an 18-9 lead just after half-time, but 17 points from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson and a second half penalty try gave the home side a win by the narrowest of margins. Newcastle opened the scoring after 15 minutes with Wilkinson converting the first of five penalties in the match. Jeremy Staunton responded in similar fashion to level the score at 3-3 before Quins scored the opening try. Gavin Duffy broke through a couple of tackles and his inside pass allowed Harder to power his way over for a score that Staunton converted to put Quins 10-3 ahead. A second Wilkinson penalty 12 minutes before half-time cut the deficit by three points, though Staunton cancelled this out with his second penalty of the half. With the game in first half injury time, Luke Sherriff was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball and Wilkinson converted the resulting penalty to make the score 13-9 to Quins at the halfway stage. The visitors made the perfect start to the second half by scoring their second try of the contest. Staunton broke through the Newcastle midfield before off loading to Duffy, who ran in the try. Staunton failed to add the two extra points on offer from the conversion but Quins lead was now up to nine points (18-9). Back came the home side and persistent pressure from the pack saw flanker Colin Charvis be held up over the line. Not long after Sherriff returned to the field then Quins were back down to 14 men, with Simon Miall being penalised for persistent offside. Wilkinson’s fourth penalty followed, before Newcastle were awarded a penalty try as the game approached the final quarter. The Falcons pack drove play up to the line from a lineout and referee Sean Davey penalised Quins for once again deliberately killing the ball. Wilkinson made no mistake in converting the try from in front of the posts to put Newcastle back in front by a single point (19-18). Staunton then missed a long range penalty attempt before Wilkinson’s final penalty of the afternoon put the hosts in front by four points with ten minutes remaining. Newcastle flanker Mike McCarthy was then shown the yellow card for not rolling away in the tackle and Staunton set-up a grandstand finale by converting a penalty with two minutes left on the clock. The Quins fly half had a couple of chances to win the match in injury time, but he saw a long range penalty and an attempted drop goal both go wide of the target and Newcastle held-on for the victory. Final score, 22-21. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Saints make Quins suffer at the Stoop

Four first half tries give Northampton the maximum points and leave Quins still looking for their first league win of the season.

NEC Harlequins suffered a 45-13 defeat against Northampton Saints in their opening Zurich Premiership game of the season at the Stoop. The visitors led 29-8 at half-time, having scored four tries in the first half that effectively ended the game as a contest, despite playing into the wind. Quins started positively and took the lead with six minutes on the clock. After Luke Sherriff stole possession at a lineout, Andy Dunne made the telling break through the midfield. The fly half then released Will Greenwood, who just had enough pace to beat the chasing defenders to the line. Dunne failed to convert, meaning Quins led 5-0. Paul Grayson put the Saints first points on the scoreboard with a penalty four minutes later, before Grant Seely went over for Northampton’s first try of the match. A patient build-up resulted in the number eight going over from close range and score under the post for a try that Grayson had no trouble converting. On 26 minutes replacement scrum half Johnny Howard, on for the injured Mark Robinson, went over for the Saints second try. A break from centre Marc Stcherbina was taken on by flanker Andrew Blowers, who had Howard in support to receive the scoring pass. Grayson added the two extra points on offer from the conversion to put Northampton 17-5 in front. Dunne kicked a penalty straight from the restart to cut the deficit by three, though Ben Cohen raced over for the Saints third try minutes later, after good work from Howard and Blowers set-up the scoring chance. Grayson once again converted but then failed to add the two extra points on offer after John Rudd went over in the corner two minutes before the interval. The winger made the most of an overlap created down the right flank, to make the score 8-29 at half-time. Centre Mark Tucker scored the Saints fifth try six minutes after the restart, with the visitors forwards once again doing the hard work to set-up the overlap wide out, though Grayson missed the conversion. However, the scoring rate slowed right down after this with the next points not materialising until 16 minutes from the end. Replacement Shane Drahm kicked a penalty for Northampton to stretch their lead to 29 points (8-37). On 73 minutes, Darren Fox completed the try scoring for the Saints; burrowing his way over from close range. Drahm failed with the conversion and after Rudd was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Ugo Monye, Quins made the most of their extra man advantage and sent Monye free for a consolation try a minute from the end. Dunne missed the conversion before Drahm completed the scoring with a penalty three minutes into injury time. Final score, 13-45. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery.

 

 

Quins defeated by Irish in league opener

Second half tries from Appleford and Sackey give Irish the points at Twickenham.

NEC Harlequins started the new Zurich Premiership season with an 18-12 defeat against London Irish in the inaugural London Double Header at Twickenham. It was the Exiles first league victory over us since September 2001. The outcome of a disappointing contest was settled three minutes from the end when Irish winger Paul Sackey raced over for a try in the left hand corner, which put his side two scores clear. Quins points came the boots of Andy Dunne and Jeremy Staunton, who kicked four penalties between them. Irish put their first points on the board with 11 minutes on the clock; fly half Barry Everitt converting a penalty after Quins scrum half Steve So’oialo was penalised at the ruck. Everitt had the opportunity to double his sides advantage four minutes later, but remarkably he pushed his penalty attempt wide of the target from in front of the posts. Quins performance improved in the second quarter and a superb break from Mel Deane took play five metres from the Exiles line. However, So’oialo knocked the ball on as it was being recycled and an excellent position was lost. Five minutes before the break and a high tackle from Irish centre Mike Catt on Ugo Monye meant Quins were unable to capitalise on a three-man overlap outside the winger. Quins opted for a kick to the corner from the penalty but then failed to win the ball at the lineout, allowing Irish to clear the danger. Three minutes into first half injury time and Dunne levelled the score after Irish were penalised for being offside, though Everitt restored the Exiles three point lead thanks to a second penalty just moments later that meant they led 6-3 at the halfway stage. Quins made a positive start straight after the restart and a fine break from Dunne was halted by a high tackle from Everitt, who was sent to the sin-bin for the offence. Once again, Dunne kicked for the corner as opposed to going for the three points and once again, Quins turned over possession whilst driving for the line. 12 minutes into the second half and whilst still down to 14 men, Irish scored the first try of the match. A patient build-up eventually resulted in the space being created to allow centre Geoff Appleford to burrow his way over in the right hand corner. Catt took over the kicking duties and slotted the conversion from close to the touchline that put the Irish ten points clear (13-3). Staunton replaced Dunne with 20 minutes left to play and was soon called into action with the boot as the Exiles were again guilty of straying offside. A second penalty from Quins replacement fly half cut the deficit to just four points (13-9) with seven minutes of normal time left to play. However, any thoughts Quins had of winning the game evaporated four minutes later, as good work from the Irish forwards took play up to the Quins twenty-two. Sackey picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and then weaved his way through a number of defenders before having the pace to beat Simon Keogh to the line. Everitt saw his conversion attempt come back off the post but the Exiles were two scores in front (18-9) with time running out. Staunton kicked a third penalty in injury time that gave Quins a bonus point, though time remained for one final attack and the chance to score a match winning try. The ball went forward deep inside Quins own half, which was immediately followed by the final whistle. Final score, 18-12. Click here to check out the Action Shot Gallery. * The second game in the London Double Header saw Saracens defeat reigning Zurich Premiership Champions London Wasps by 13-11.