Harlequins secured a 41-21 victory over Gloucester in the Premiership at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday. The win marked Harlequins’s first away league victory of 2016/17 and their third straight win to leave them sitting atop of the table with two round remaining before they resume their European campaign, while Gloucester remain bottom after four losses out of five games this season.
Harlequins are a rugby club in England. They currently have the highest point total of any team in the Premiership.
England’s number eight and Quins With the game’s last move, Alex Dombrandt accomplished his hat-trick.
| Harlequins (26), Harlequins (41), Harlequins (40 |
| Dombrandt has three tries, Murley has two, and Lynagh has one. Edwards, Esterhuizen, Edwards, Edwards, Edwards, Edwards, Edwards, Edwards Edwards, pens |
| Northampton (24), Northampton (27), Northampton (28), North |
| Augustus 2; Waller 1; Augustus 2; Augustus 2; Augustus 2; Augustus 2 Biggar 3 Cons Biggar 2 Pens |
Harlequins, the defending champions, completed a remarkable year by finishing third in the Premiership, just edging out Northampton.
After two early tries for Juarno Augustus and one for Alex Waller, both enhanced by Dan Biggar, Saints lead 21-7 at Twickenham.
However, Alex Dombrandt added a second to his own early try, which was matched by two from Cadan Murley on the left wing.
Before Dombrandt crossed again, Louis Lynagh sprinted away for his sixth try.
While Quins had their try bonus point secured before the interval, Saints had bad luck as they gave it their best on a drizzly day in south-west London but were unable to cross the whitewash for their own bonus point.
In reality, their only second-half points came from a Biggar penalty, which added to the one that had put the visitors ahead late in the first half.
They were also denied a losing bonus point when England’s number eight Dombrandt crashed over in the game’s last play, with Andre Esterhuizen converting.
Quins’ Jack Kenningham and Matt Symons got involved in a brawl in the second half that also included Saints’ Api Ratuniyarawa (far left)
After the excellent Danny Care and Saints substitute Rory Hutchinson were both sin-binned after far from the first round of pushing and shoving of the day, the game concluded with 14 men-a-side.
Quins, on the other hand, earned the crucial last touchdown as they finished the job, demonstrating what they can do even without Marcus Smith’s creative flair following the England outside-Covid-enforced half’s absence.
While Smith was out, Will Edwards, a former England Sevens standout, stepped in as a capable replacement in just his second Premiership start.
He scored seven tries in the first half, the first five of which came inside the first 18 minutes, in front of a 72,785-strong crowd.
While all of the major names shined at HQ, it was Dombrandt’s spectacular performance that gave England manager Eddie Jones the most cause to rejoice.
He played a key role as Quins moved downfield, allowing Edwards to put Murley over for the first of his brace.
After being supplied by scrum-half Care, Dombrandt scored his second close to the halftime to give Quins the lead for the first time. And, despite Biggar’s penalty putting Saints back in ahead, Lynagh outpaced Courtnall Skosan into the left corner, and Dombrandt completed his hat-trick with the last word.
Both teams are again in action on Sunday, January 2nd, when Quins visit Gloucester and Saints host Saracens.
Tabai Matson, Harlequins manager:
“Alex Dombrandt’s delivery always attracts your attention. He’s a loose forward who constantly finds his way to the try line, which makes him stand out. However, when you look at the performance in terms of physicality, getting on the ball, and trying hard to get into tackles, you can see how that fits in with an international player. Three tries – avaricious jerk.
“Will Edwards was outstanding. We didn’t have fly-half cover, and people underestimate how difficult it is to step into a gap like that. He scored goals and led the team around the pitch. He was able to acclimatize nicely.
“Marcus [Smith] is a fantastic player. He’s back in the mix now that he’s available. These are peculiar times. We’re really lucky to have a fantastic medical staff that helps us get over these weird moments as quickly as possible.”
Chris Boyd, director of rugby at Northampton Saints:
“It’s a shame we didn’t get four or five points out of it.” In the end, we made a handful of bad mistakes and paid the price. It’s disheartening.
“We weren’t precise enough, gave up too many penalties, and were in trouble with the referee.”
“You will pay the price if you do so. We provided them with far too many opportunities to win.”
Green, Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Murley; Edwards, Care; Marler, Walker, Collier, Symons, Lewies (captain), Lawday, Kenningham, Dombrandt. Harlequins: Green, Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Murley; Edwards, Care; Marler, Walker, Collier, Symons, Lewies (captain), Lawday, Kenningham, Dombrandt
Mush, Botta, Herrod, Tizard, Taulani, Gjaltema, Northmore, and Jones are the replacements.
Sin-bin: Take care (74)
Furbank; Sleightholme, Proctor, Dingwall, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell, Waller, Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Augustus; Northampton: Furbank; Sleightholme, Proctor, Dingwall, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell, Waller, Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa,
Fish, Auterac, Hill, Coles, Wood, James, Hutchinson, and Tuala are the replacements.
Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Hutchin (74).
Wayne Barnes is the official referee.
Related Tag
- premiership rugby
