Harlequins favourite Paul Burke returned in style on Sunday to steer his team to a
well-deserved victory over Wasps.
The Irish fly-half has been out of action for nearly two months after
sustaining a knee injury playing against London Irish in September.
But he looked like he had never been away.
He started by following suit after Wasps' Alex King had kicked an early
penalty - and he added a second after 17 minutes.
Centre Nick Greenstock then created an eight-point cushion with the first try
of the afternoon.
The score came after Alex Codling successfully took a line-out ball close to
Wasps' goalline.
Codling immediately knocked the ball towards the backs to set up a pouncing
Greenstock, and Burke converted.
The 29-year-old then added an impressive 40 metre drop goal to put Harlequins
16-3 up at the break.
Fly-half King clawed Wasps back into contention with two further penalties
after the restart.
Burke replied with a third penalty, but Hooker Phil Greening then finally made
his way over Quins' goalline with a 61st-minute try.
Wasps had been applying the pressure, and Greening finally cut loose to outwit
two Quins players and score.
King surprisingly missed the conversion, and Burke soon stretched Harlequins'
lead to eight points again.
Wasps did not give up, but in the end two vital errors in injury time ensured
Harlequins had the last laugh.
A wayward pass set the ball loose in the Wasps 22.
Ben Gollings chased, but Wasps regained possession. Then, though, centre
Stuart Abbot's clearance kick was charged down by the Burke who touched down to
secure his team's fourth league victory of the season.
Teams:
Harlequins: N. Williams, Moore, Jewell, Greenstock, Gollings,
Burke, Duncombe, Starr, Fuga, Gomez, Davison, Codling, Tiatia,
Vos, Diprose.
Not Used: Rudzki, Cardinalli, Evans, Sheriff, Bemand, Monye,
Fitzgerald.
Sin Bin: Bemand (30), Diprose (71).
Tries: Greenstock, Burke.
Cons: Burke.
Pens: Burke 4.
Drop Goals: Burke.
Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Abbott, Erinle, Logan, A.
King, Howley,
Dowd, Greening, Molloy, Beardshaw, Birkett, Lock, Volley,
Scrivener.
Not Used: Wood, van Gisbergen, Waters, Dallaglio, McCarthy,
Mackenzie, Leota.
Tries: Greening.
Pens: A. King 3.
Att: 6,252
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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