Rotherham were given a harsh lesson about life in the Zurich Premiership as
they suffered a heavy loss in their first top-flight game at Millmoor.
The Titans were outplayed by Harlequins in the first half despite taking the
lead after only 45 seconds through Geraint Lewis.
Referee Ashley Rowden gave the score after consultation with the video
referee, one of three such decisions that he made in the match.
Welsh international back row Lewis touched down following work by Glen
Kenworthy and with Jason Strange converting, the home side were off to a perfect
start.
Harlequins came back with a penalty from their Irish international fly-half
Paul Burke and the visitors quickly followed up by adding their first try of the
match from England Sevens ace Ugo Monye.
It was the first of three for Monye, who followed up his double against
champions Wasps last week in style.
Monye and Harlequins were at it again shortly afterwards as the visitors added
a third score following a turnover in midfield and as the ball was spread out to
the wing, Burke released Monye for a 38-metre sprint to the line and a 13-7
lead.
Harlequins were dominating every phase at this stage and it was no surprise
that they added a third try three minutes before the break as former Leeds
winger George Harder skated around ex-Quins winger Jason Keyter.
Burke added the touchline conversion to increase the visitors' lead to 20-7 and he was at it
again before the break after Harder found his way to the touchline and offloaded
to fellow Samoan Ace Tiatia for a fourth, bonus point, try.
After the break the home side made more of a fist of it and scored a second
try from skipper Chris Johnson in between two more penalties from Burke.
With the match safely won the visitors made a string of changes and
replacement fly-half Andy Dunne added a penalty and conversion for yet another
Monye try, his first hat-trick in the Premiership.
Monye's final act put the seal on Quins' best start to a season for seven
years.
Teams:
Rotherham: Benson, Elliott, Ewens, Jorgensen, Wood, Strange,
Raulini, Lloyd, Johnson, Noon, Gross, Kenworthy, Greeff,
Earnshaw, Lewis.
Replacements: Smyth, Loader, Cook, Cockle, Short, Harrison, Keyter.
Tries: Lewis, Johnson.
Cons: Strange.
Pens: Strange.
Harlequins: Duffy, Harder, Deane, Reay, Monye, Burke, Willis,
Worsley, Tiatia, Dawson, Davison, Miall, Sanderson, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Fuga, Jones, Gomez, Evans, Winters, Keogh, Dunne.
Tries: Monye 3, Harder, Tiatia.
Cons: Burke 2, Dunne.
Pens: Burke 3, Dunne.
Att: 6,000
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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