Harlequins hauled themselves into Monday's last eight draw after overcoming
Manchester in the fifth round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.
On a miserable afternoon at The Stoop the Division Two side were certainly not
overawed by their Premiership opponents.
It was no surprise that Manchester took the lead through their captain Steve
Swindells who landed a 49-yard penalty on seven minutes.
The players had to contend with a howling wind and lashing rain which swept
across the pitch and there were plenty of mistakes.
But the Quins settled down first and claimed the game's opening try. Centres
Will Greenwood and Nick Greenstock combined in the 11th minute and the latter
plunged over.
Greenstock scored his and the Quins' second try 18 minutes later after
stand-in out-half Matthew Powell put him through and he did not need a second
invitation.
Manchester then pinned Quins back coming close to a try on several occasions.
Wingers Jamie Greenlees and Chris Snyman had the pick of the chances and
Swindells went close twice with long-range penalty attempts.
Despite the Manchester pressure, Quins had the final first-half word with
Niall Woods going over five minutes into injury time, adding to his two earlier
conversions leaving him with a tally of 11 points.
Tempers frayed as the second half commenced and the former Australian
international and Quins captain David Wilson found himself in the sin-bin with
his opposite number Tim Burgon.
A scrum followed and Rory Jenkins blocked down the Manchester clearance and
dived over to score.
Quins came close twice more, Woods dropping the ball over the line and Ed
Jennings dived over only to be called back before Jamie Williams slid in to make
it 31-3.
Derek Morgan was sin-binned after only being on the pitch three minutes and
returned three minutes before the final whistle.
Replacement Asi Leulia lifted the travelling supporters spirits with a
consolation try six minutes from time.
But it was Woods once again who had the final word in injury time scoring and
converting to leave the final score 38-8.
Harlequins: Tries: Greenstock 2, Woods 2, Jenkins, J. Williams.
Cons: Woods 4. Harlequins: J. Williams, Gollings, Greenwood, Greenstock,
Woods, Powell, Richards, Starr, Fuga, Dawson, Codling, Cross,
Jenkins, Wilson, White-Cooper.Replacements: Friday for J. Williams (74),
Jennings for Richards (62), Hackett for Starr (56),
Matthews for Fuga (66), Morgan for Codling (62),Alesbrook for Wilson (66).
Not Used: Burrows.Sin Bin: Wilson (42), Morgan (67).
Manchester: Tries: Leulia. Pens: Swindells. Manchester: Swindells, Greenlees, Graham,
Gerrard, Snyman,Kahn, Dickens, Batt, Hewson, Davies, Bradshaw, Temmen, Dobson,
Burgon, White.Replacements: Leulia for Greenlees (59),
Baker for Dickens (53), Whitfield for Hewson (69).
Not Used: Palmer, D. Craddock, Bettridge, Griffiths.Sin Bin: Burgon (42).
Att: 1,489Ref: Trevor Fisher (RFU).
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