Bottom club Rotherham went down to their 16th defeat of the season as Harlequins won comfortably by four tries to none at Clifton Lane.

Poor defending by the Yorkshire side, particularly in the second half, allowed Harlequins to achieve their third consecutive Premiership victory and also pick up a bonus point.

Rotherham were showing signs of coming back into the game when a fourth penalty goal by Mike Umaga made it 18-12, but Harlequins capitalised on defensive errors by Umaga and winger Michael Wood which allowed Quins back Rod Jewell to touch down.

Five minutes later Quins captain and Australian flanker David Wilson touched down for his side's fourth try, and with replacement outside-half Craig Chalmers adding the conversion Harlequins' victory was guaranteed.

Earlier, Rotherham's pack - in which Glen Kenworthy was outstanding - won plenty of ball and on several occasions in both halves threatened the Quins line.

But Rotherham's inability to finish off decent moves prevented them scoring, and Quins' defence held them up as well.

Harlequins got off to a terrific start, scoring a drop goal as early as the third minute through fly-half Paul Burke - and a minute later Rotherham's position was even worse when Quins winger Daren O'Leary raced to the line from 40 metres out.

Rotherham gradually regained some composure, and with the forwards winning plenty of possession the Quins 22 was attacked frequently.

But despite their possession Rotherham could only score three first-half penalties by Umaga who at one point put his side 9-8 ahead on 23 minutes.

Seven minutes before the break, British Lions hooker Keith Wood barged over for Quins' second try - and with Burke converting Quins led 15-9 at the break.

Rotherham's second-half showing revealed plenty of courage before weak defending handed the initiative to Quins.

The third and fourth tries clearly demonstrated that Quins not only deserved to win but showed they were more than capable of cashing in on Rotherham's weak organisation in defence.

Zurich man of the match: David Wilson.

Teams:

Rotherham: Umaga, Greaves, Trivella, Shepherd, Wood, Binns, Forster, Thorp, Johnson, Latham, Greeff, Kenworthy, Fea'unati,Spence, Schmid.

Not Used: Gravel, Bunting, Parr, Wade, Scully, Northey, Dawson.

Pens: Umaga 4.

Harlequins: O'Neill, Jewell, Greenwood, Greenstock, O'Leary, Burke, M. Powell, Leonard, Wood, Olver, Morgan, Codling, Jenkins, Wilson, Winters.

Not Used: Friday, Chalmers, Jennings, Dawson, Fuga, White-Cooper, Sanderson.

Tries: O'Leary, Wood, Jewell, Wilson.

Cons: Burke 2, Chalmers.

Pens: Burke.

Drop Goals: Burke.

Att: 1,800

Ref: Nigel Yates (RFU).