Northampton Saints avenged their shock quarter-final exit from the Tetley's
Bitter Cup two weeks ago with a 34-25 triumph at Harlequins.
Saints, defeated 11-6 at The Stoop in the domestic cup, set the tempo early on
and then sustained the pressure to run in four converted tries, which earned
them an extra bonus point, and two penalties.
Ali Hepher scored the first try after just 10 minutes, the fly-half catching
the home side napping to sidestep his way through the defence and touch down.
Matt Dawson, kicking for the injured Paul Grayson, converted.
England international Ben Cohen was next on the scoreboard just two minutes
later, the 22-year-old charging 60 metres up-field following good work from Matt
Stewart, Dawson and Andrew Blowers.
Dawson again converted before adding a further penalty 40 metres out at the
break, while Irish international Niall Woods kept Quins in contention by kicking
two penalties out of four.
Northampton continued their menacing form in the second half with a
42nd-minute try by Luca Martin on the left wing with the help of Hepher and
captain Pat Lam.
Hepher went on to claim the crucial fourth try of the afternoon for the
visitors on 71 minutes. Dawson, again consistent with the boot, converted both
scores and added a late penalty.
Harlequins, however, were not to be outdone and made the most of the
sin-binnings of Stewart and Cohen.
Replacement Ed Jennings touched down for a converted try after a sustained
period of pressure after 58 minutes.
Talented winger Brendon Daniel and replacement Ben Gollings then added two
further scores, but it was too little too late for the London side.
Zurich man of the match: Ali Hepher.
Teams:
Harlequins: Woods, O'Leary, Greenwood, Burrows, Daniel,
Chalmers, M. Powell, Starr, Wood, Olver, Morgan, White-Cooper,
Jenkins, Dawling, J. Powell.
Replacements: Gollings for O'Leary (40),
Jennings for Burrows (45), Dawson for Starr (72),
Winters for Jenkins (72), Fuga for Dawling (72).
Not Used: Friday, Jones.
Tries: Jennings, Daniel, Gollings.
Cons: Woods, Chalmers.
Pens: Woods 2.
Northampton: Shaw, Martin, Bateman, Allen, Cohen, Hepher,
Dawson, Pagel, Brotherstone, Stewart, Brouzet, Rodber, Blowers, Pountney, Lam.
Replacements: Thompson for Brotherstone (60),
Phillips for Rodber (60), Seely for Lam (75).
Not Used: Todd, Malone, Tucker, Thorneycroft.
Sin Bin: Stewart (49), Cohen (57).
Tries: Hepher 2, Cohen, Martin.
Cons: Dawson 4.
Pens: Dawson 2.
Att: 4,128
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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