| Tub (8) 25 |
| Tries: Cokanasiga 2, Stooke, Reid Con: Russell Pen: Russell |
| Harlequins (5) 17 |
| Tries: Smith, Walker, Chisholm Con: Smith |
Scotland stand-off Finn Russell edged out England counterpart Marcus Smith as Tub went high of the Premiership with a bonus-point win over Harlequins.
Dwelling winger Joe Cokanasiga scored two tries, the primary of them after barely a minute, rapidly levelled by Smith.
However Russell’s penalty edged Tub forward on the break, aided by a person benefit from Danny Care’s yellow card.
Elliott Stooke, Cokanasiga and Miles Reid then added second-half scores to safe Tub their key fourth strive.
That strive bonus level within the swirling wind and rain on the Rec edged them above Sale to be high of the desk at Christmas.
Jack Walker and James Chisholm scored second-half tries for Quins, however Smith hit the submit with a last-minute conversion try that will have earned the guests a dropping bonus level.
Tub took the lead when Will Muir leapt excessive to faucet again Ben Spencer’s lofted kick, Russell by some means discovered house on the correct to launch Ollie Lawrence and Cokanasiga was on his shoulder to steam via Tyrone Inexperienced’s tried deal with.
After Russell’s conversion try went vast, Smith then danced via the house defence to attain on the different finish, though he hooked his kick towards a submit.
Max Ojomoh then went over on the left seven minutes earlier than the break however referee Luke Pearce disallowed the strive, bringing play again and yellow-carding Look after falling on the tackled participant and awarding a penalty which Russell kicked.
Tub made their man benefit depend initially of the second half with a catch-and-drive strive by lock ahead Stooke.
It went unconverted however, regardless of Care’s return to the sector, the hosts moved 20-5 forward when Cokanasiga steamrollered over Smith’s tried deal with. permitting Russell to land his first conversion of the sport.
Smith’s penalty to the nook led to a catch-and-drive strive for Tub previous boy Walker, Smith changing to make it 20-12.
However Tub regained the higher hand and, after his tried drop-goal hit the submit, Russell’s inch-perfect tactical kick then arrange a line-out within the nook, from which Reid’s strive stretched his aspect’s result in 25-12 with six minutes left.
Chisholm’s last-minute rating got here too late to depend, when Smith once more hooked his conversion try towards the submit to depart Quins sixth within the desk, six factors behind new leaders Tub.
Who’s subsequent?
Tub have eight days earlier than their subsequent sport, at Leicester on New Yr’s Eve.
Harlequins host Gloucester at Twickenham subsequent Saturday earlier than dealing with backside membership Newcastle away on Friday 5 January.
Tub head of rugby Johann van Graan:
“It makes Christmas much more pleasant, however crucial factor is that the folks of Tub are smiling and I would wish to suppose we gave them efficiency.
“It was like two heavyweight boxers, every punching again. That is what makes the Premiership actually particular. There are such a lot of good groups and video games are so shut.
“Joe Cokanasiga was very disenchanted to not go to the World Cup. However there was some superb communication from Steve Borthwick and the England workforce about what he must work on.
“Aerially he has improved a lot. I maintain saying to him that he is the largest winger I’ve ever coached – and I have been lucky to teach some good and really quick wingers. His measurement is one thing he can use a lot. And he used it. These finishes… the one down within the left nook, he actually ran over three guys and nonetheless had the facility to complete.”
Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard:
“The kicking sport, the aerial battle in that climate, was at all times going to be an enormous a part of it and so they did it very effectively. Due to that, we needed to work actually onerous.
“It is undoubtedly a protracted stretch, however there aren’t any excuses. We had week, we freshened up and, as I mentioned, it was simply execution stuff round that aerial battle within the circumstances.
“We then began taking some excessive balls and we did get again into the sport. However they did some wonderful 50:22s that fell their method.
“Once we had these massive wins towards Sale and Racing we did not get too excessive. And once you drop a sport you possibly can’t get too low. There have been undoubtedly some learnings there. The subsequent fortnight goes to be essential in preserving our place among the many main contenders.”
Tub: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Muir; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Annett, du Toit, Stooke, Ewels, van Velze, Reid, Barbeary.
Replacements: Dunn, Schoeman, Stuart, Roux, Coetzee, Schreuder, Bailey, Redpath.
Harlequins: T Inexperienced; David, Joseph, Esterhuizen, Lynagh; Smith, Care; Marler, Walker, Collier, Launchbury, Lewies, Cunningham-South, Chisholm, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Riley, Baxter, Lewis, Herbst, Hammond, W Evans, Porter, Beard.
Sin-bin: Care (33)
Referee: Luke Pearce.