Former Ireland international Paul Burke kept Harlequins in the hunt for a
Zurich Premiership play-off spot with a flawless kicking display against
Saracens at the Stoop.
He landed four penalties from four attempts before being stretchered off nine
minutes into the second half with a neck injury following a heavy collision with
England flanker Richard Hill.
Burke's impressive form with the boot was welcomed by Quins given their
failure to score a try and although they went close on two occasions, Saracens'
watertight defence held firm throughout.
Instead, it was the visitors who notched the solitary touch down of the match
as Ben Broster was swept over by his pack in a first half which was desperately
short of entertainment.
Play livened up after the interval, however, with Saracens showing plenty of
ambition but lacking the knockout punch after working their way into promising
field positions.
They finished with a losing bonus point for keeping the defeat within sevens
points and their bid to register two Premiership victories in succession
continues, although coach Rod Kafer will take plenty of positives from Saturday's
performance.
The former Wallaby must have been pleased by his side's opening spell as
Saracens threatened from the start with French fly-half Thomas Castaignede
orchestrating play to good effect at fly-half.
But it was their pack who delivered their first try, prop Broster concluding a
powerful drive which Quins were powerless to halt, and full-back Robbie Kydd
added the conversion.
A tricky penalty from Burke slashed the deficit to a single point - he had
already knocked one over - but Saracens were still in full control as they used
forwards Simon Raiwalui and Taine Randell to punch holes in the home defence.
Quins skipper Andre Vos and second row Jim Evans certainly felt the effect of
Saracens' forward power as both players were forced off the pitch with knocks,
although Vos returned from the blood bin shortly after.
The blood bin did not remain empty for long, however, with England centre Will
Greenwood and Samoan George Harder leaving the field as Quins began dropping
like flies.
Burke slotted his third penalty from well inside his own half before Greenwood
and Harder reappeared, prompting a promising spell from Mark Evans' side with
winger Simon Keogh going close in the corner.
Saracens had infringed though and Burke made no mistake with the three points
as Quins entered the break 12-7 up, but disaster struck nine minutes into the
second half when the Irishman was taken out of the game.
Play was held up for several minutes while he received treatment before being
taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, and his departure began another
dominant spell from the visitors.
They swept forward in the 66th minute when Hill popped up at fly-half and
carved open Quins' backline with an arching run but Richard Haughton was
collared after taking the final pass.
Quins should have scored shortly after when Gavin Duffy and Harder broke
up-field but with just the covering Haughton to beat, Duffy timed his pass
poorly and the danger was snuffed out by the Saracens winger.
Harder was held up inches short in the dying minutes as the match blossomed
into an entertaining finale with both sides probing away at each other, but
there was no further score as Quins held out for victory.
Teams:
Harlequins: Duffy, Harder, Greenwood, Deane, Keogh, Burke,
Bemand, Jones, Fuga, Leonard, Rudzki, Evans, Sanderson, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Dunne for Burke (50), Winters for Evans (32).
Not Used: Tiatia, Dawson, Worsley, Davison, Jewell.
Pens: Burke 4.
Saracens: Kydd, Haughton, Johnston, Sorrell, O'Mahony,
Castaignede, Bracken, Bergamaschi, R. Russell, Broser,
Raiwalui, Yandell, Skirving, Hill, Randell.
Replacements: Bailey for Johnston (41),
Marsters for Broser (55).
Not Used: Ibanez, Chesney, B. Russell, Williams, Cech.
Tries: Broser.
Cons: Kydd.
Pens: Kydd.
Att: 8,170
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
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