Harlequins ended their eight-match losing streak with a dramatic, but
ultimately frustrating, draw against Castres at The Stoop.
Dafydd James scored two tries as Harlequins twice opened healthy leads but
they were pinned back each time as Castres centre Richard Dourthe, the former
France international, proved a constant thorn in their side.
Dourthe was voted man of the match for his six penalties and the carving break
which set up Brad Fleming's second-half try.
Even at 23-23 and with Castres down to 14 men after Paul Volley was
sin-binned, Quins had chances but two missed penalties in the closing stages
from fly-half Jeremy Staunton, who finished with 13 points, proved costly.
Harlequins will now take their search for a first victory of the season to
Wasps, the European and Zurich Premiership champions, next weekend.
It appeared after 22 minutes that today was the day as Harlequins, having
limited Castres' attacking options, led 13-3.
The visitors had hardly touched the ball when Tom Williams, a lithe, slippery
full-back making his first start of the season, slid around Dourthe to launch a
fluid break.
The England Under-21 international moved the ball inside via Simon Keogh to
Andre Vos and the Harlequins skipper fed James to finish off under the posts.
It was arguably the brightest moment the loyal Stoop fans had witnessed in
what has been a depressing season but their spirits remained high as Harlequins,
in charge at the set-piece, bossed the next 20 minutes.
Staunton landed a pair of penalties to open a 13-3 advantage, the second of
which came after Harlequins' much maligned pack had driven nearly 30 metres from
the lineout and forced Castres to collapse the maul in front of the posts.
The French side started with Volley - a key member of Wasps' double-winning
side last season and once again overlooked by England despite the paucity of
proven back-row forwards at Andy Robinson's disposal - at number eight.
He turned in another gritty display but it was Dourthe who proved Castres' key
man.
After landing a 48-metre penalty to get his side on the board and receiving a
dressing down from the referee for a high blow on Ceri Jones, Dourthe landed two
quick penalties just before the interval.
After the interval Staunton landed another penalty but every time Quins
thought the game was theirs, Dourthe pinned them back.
He landed two more penalties to draw Castres within a point before James
finished off a neat move for his second try of the game to extend Harlequins'
lead to 23-15.
The ball was stolen at the lineout and when it finally reached England centre
Will Greenwood, he drew two defenders and flicked it back inside to James, his
British Lions colleague from three years ago.
But this game continued to twist and turn and with celebrations still in full
flow, Dourthe picked a wonderful angle and broke Harlequins' cover defence
before handing outside to Fleming.
Dourthe missed the conversion from wide on the right but landed a sixth
penalty of the afternoon just before the hour and the scores were level at
23-23.
Castres were then reduced to 14 men when Volley was sin-binned. but Staunton
missed twoshots at goal to claim the win.
Teams:
Harlequins: Williams, Harder, Greenwood, James, Keogh,
Staunton, So'oialo, Worsley, Fuga, Jones, Winters, Miall,
Easter, Vos, Diprose.
Replacements: Duffy for Williams (66), Sherriff for Vos (36).
Not Used: Tiatia, Lambert, Palepoi, Dunne, Deane.
Tries: James 2.
Cons: Staunton 2.
Pens: Staunton 3.
Castres: Mola, Fleming, Dourthe, Denney, Lhande, Delaigue,
Albouy, Fitzpatrick, Ledesma, Galasso, Capo, Spanghero,
Froment, Bias, Volley.
Replacements: Bory for Lhande (40),
Reggiardo for Fitzpatrick (75), Argenese for Ledesma (75),
Barrier for Spanghero (60), Bernad for Froment (60).
Not Used: Sadourny, Morales.
Sin Bin: Volley (70).
Tries: Fleming.
Pens: Dourthe 6.
Att: 7,358
Ref: David Changleng (SRFU).
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