Harlequins' first Zurich Premiership victory since early February was achieved
in emphatic style over relegated Rotherham who lost their 28 consecutive league
match, the 20th of the current season.
It took the home side until the second half to earn their bonus point and the
visitors can count themselves a trifle unfortunate to have conceded three scores
by half-time given the amount of possession that they had enjoyed.
The Harlequins opening score came from a turnover from a Rotherham attack when
fly-half Phil Jones attempted a kick into the home side's 22 only to see the
Samoan powerhouse George Harder catch the ball and offload to England centre
Will Greenwood who supplied the scoring pass for full-back Gavin Duffy who ran
in from 65 metres.
Andy Dunne converted the try and shortly afterwards added a penalty as the
home side looked to build up a big score but it was the visitors who hit back
when Jones landed a simple penalty.
However, it was only a brief respite for the bedraggled Yorkshire outfit who
were soon behind their own posts once again as Ugo Monye finished off a quick
break down the flank to score by the posts for a try that Dunne converted.
The Titans were not prepared to roll over and Jon Pritchard finished off a
smart move from a lineout that Jones converted to narrow the gap to 17-10.
For a short while the visitors threatened to draw level but Harlequins just
upped the pace a bit and from a rolling maul following a tapped penalty close to
the visitors' line prop forward Kerry Jones went in for his fifth league try of
the season. Dunne added the extras and the home side turned around 24-10 to the
good.
Despite Jon Benson, who came on for the injured Jones before the break, the
home side were able to miss a penalty of their own before Dunne glided in for a
try of his own and the attacking bonus point after being released by Greenwood.
With options either side of him he was able to throw a dummy and run in
himself.
Just past the hour mark the home side made it five tries when Jones once again
got his name on the scoresheet.
It was his sixth try of the Premiership campaign, and his ninth overall this
season, some feat for a prop forward.
Jones' second try of the match was converted by Dunne and Harlequins then made
five changes, including Jones who was denied the chance of an unusual
hat-trick.
The visitors also made three changes at this point and with both sides
throwing the ball around it was no surprise that the more points were on offer,
Gavin Duffy added his second try of the match a minute from time, which Dunne
converted.
But there was still time for the visitors to add a try of their own when
Michael Wood fought his way over for a try in stoppage time for a score that
Benson converted.
Teams:
Harlequins: Duffy, Harder, Greenwood, Bell, Monye, Dunne,
Keogh, Jones, Fuga, Dawson, Miall, Evans, Winters, Vos,
Horstmann.
Replacements: Willis for Harder (65),
J. Taumalolo for Greenwood (66), Worsley for Jones (62),
C. Dott for Fuga (80), Gomez for Dawson (64),
Rudzki for Evans (61), Sheriff for Vos (63).
Tries: Duffy 2, Monye, Jones 2, Dunne.
Cons: Dunne 5.
Pens: Dunne.
Rotherham: Stortoni, Elliott, Pritchard, Umaga, Wood, Jones,
Easterby, Lloyd, Long, Noon, Kenworthy, Gross, Tuiavii,
B. Volschenk, McLeod-Henderson, Johnson, Van Der Merwe,
Blackett.
Replacements: Benson for Jones (40), Raulini for Johnson (61),
Rawson for Van Der Merwe (63), van Zyl for Blackett (62).
Not Used: Johnson, Van Der Merwe, Blackett.
Tries: Pritchard, Wood.
Cons: Jones, Benson.
Pens: Jones, Benson.
Att: 4,758
Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).
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