A try in the first minute of extra time sent Harlequins into the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup where they will face the mighty Leicester.
Victory was ground out against Sale Sharks as both sides made a catalogue of
errors, and Quins will have to find another gear if they are to stand any sort
of chance against the Tigers.
Sale got off to a cracking start as Charlie Hodgson ripped the Quins' defence
wide open and centre Mel Deane was in support to race clear under the post.
Hodgson converted but Quins came right back to within a point thanks to two
Paul Burke penalties after the visitors took advantage of some sloppy play from
Sale.
Sale had to work hard in defence and managed to edge ahead with Hodgson on
target twice after Quins were penalised.
With five minutes to go until the end of the half, former Sale winger Matt
Moore raced clear out wide and Burke's conversion levelled the scores.
After the break Sale looked to be fired up and once again took the lead with a
neat drop-goal from Hodgson.
Burke and Hodgson exchanged penalties and after he had once again levelled the
scores, Burke added a drop-goal of his own to put Quins ahead.
Replacement scrum-half Alan Dickens looked to have put Sale back on track when
he charged down a Harlequin kick and touched down but he was pulled back by the
referee and judged to be offside.
Winger Mark Cueto also had a try disallowed, this time for crossing, but it
was left to Hodgson to rescue Sale with a 45 metre drop-goal with the final kick
of normal time.
Sale suffered a killer blow in the opening minute of extra time when a
tremendous drive took Quins up field and full-back Ryan O'Neill went over for
Burke to convert.
Burke then added another penalty to give him a personal total of 22 points on
the day as Quins clinched their place in the next round.
Teams:
Sale:
Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson,
Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Perelini,
Wilks, Pinkerton.
Replacements: Shaw for Hanley (55), Dickens for Redpath (62),
C. Marais for Titterrell (41), Davies for Perelini (69).
Not Used: Going, Giacheri, Black.
Tries: Deane.
Cons: Hodgson.
Pens: Hodgson 4.
Drop Goals: Hodgson 2.
Harlequins:
O'Neill, Moore, Greenwood, Bell, Luger, Burke,
M. Powell, Starr, Wood, Leonard, Morgan, Codling, Winters,
Tamarua, Diprose.
Replacements: Jewell for Luger (51), Davison for Codling (57).
Not Used: Fuga, Dawson, Alesbrook, Bemand, Mapletoft.
Tries: Moore, O'Neill.
Cons: Burke 2.
Pens: Burke 5
Drop Goals: Burke.
Sin Bin: Tamarua (46).
After Extra Time
Att: 2,693
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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