Harlequins continued their unbeaten run since the New Year with a 21-19 win
over visiting Gloucester at The Stoop thanks to fly-half Paul Burke.
The London side, who have now won five games on the trot since January
including booking a place in the final of the Tetley's Bitter Cup and a
semi-final spot in the European shield, held their nerve to claim just their
third Premiership win of the season over the West Country side, but only by the
skin of their teeth.
Quins began the game in menacing form with Australian captain David Wilson
scoring a try after just one minute after the home side instantly put the
pressure on Gloucester. The effort was converted.
Youngster Ben Gollings then continued the home side's charge with a
14th-minute try on the right wing following more good work from Burke.
Gloucester hit back though and clearly were not going to give up without a
fight.
Fly-half Byron Hayward was as consistent as ever with the boot and kicked two
penalties before the pack muscled their way over Quins' goal line and winger
Rory Greenslade-Jones touched down. Hayward converted to put Gloucester 13-12 up
at the break.
Once again the tables turned though to produce a pulsating game of rugby in
the second half on a dreary Tuesday evening. Burke added a penalty and a drop
goal to give the home side a five point cushion but Gloucester's replacement
fly-half Simon Mannix replied with a penalty to put them within a dangerous two
points.
Mannix then heightened the tension by missing a penalty and a drop goal but
made amends in injury-time with a penalty giving Gloucester a one-point lead.
Burke though came up trumps when Gloucester were penalised for crossing and he
converted the crucial 84th-minute penalty to hand Quins victory - their first
Premiership win since September 16.
Teams:
Harlequins: O'Neill, Gollings, Burrows, Greenstock, Daniel,
Burke, M. Powell, Leonard, Wood, Olver, Codling, White-Cooper,
Sanderson, Wilson, Winters.
Replacements: Richards for M. Powell (54),
Jenkins for Wilson (72).
Not Used: Chalmers, Jewell, Starr, Fuga, Jones.
Sin Bin: Wilson (33), Burrows (39).
Tries: Sanderson, Gollings.
Cons: Burke.
Pens: Burke 2.
Drop Goals: Burke.
Gloucester: Catling, Greenslade-Jones, Fanolua, Little, Beim,
Hayward, Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Deacon, Fidler, I. Jones,
Boer, K. Jones, Paramore.
Replacements: Mannix for Hayward (55), Djoudi for Fortey (59),
Vickery for Deacon (51), M. Cornwell for Fidler (70),
Hazell for K. Jones (55), Ojomoh for Paramore (66).
Not Used: Yates.
Tries: Greenslade-Jones.
Cons: Hayward.
Pens: Hayward 2, Mannix 2.
Att: 5,500
Ref: G Ashton-Jones (RFU).
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