Marcus Smith shines after sin-bin as Harlequins overpower Vannes
WRAP: Marcus Smith shrugged off a first half sin bin to help Harlequins to a 57-19 bonus point win over Vannes in Pool Three of the European Challenge Cup.
England back Smith totalled 22 points from two tries and six conversions, despite enduring a spell on the sidelines for a deliberate knock-on.
It was a much-needed dominant display from the home side, who managed to shrug off their winless start to the new Gallagher Prem campaign.
Quins were 26-14 up at the interval with Cadan Murley scoring twice and Smith and Will Hobson also crossing the line while the visitors responded through Wayan De Benedittis and winger Enzo Benmegal.
Benmegal reduced the deficit with his second just after the interval, but the home side never really looked in danger of surrendering their advantage and further tries from Sam Riley and Smith again had them home and dry by the hour mark.
With the pressure off Quins stepped up their quest for a bonus point and it arrived via three more tries in the final 15 minutes, a brace from Will Evans sandwiching one from Jimmy Staples.
The scorers:
For Harlequins:
Tries: Murley 2, M Smith 2, Hobson, Riley, Evans 2, Staples 2
Cons: M Smith 6
For RC Vannes:
Tries: De Benedittis, Benmegal 2
Cons: Cotarmanac’h 2
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 George Furbank, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley (captain), 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Lucas Schmid, 7 Seb Driscoll, 6 Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 James Dun, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Sam Riley, 1 Will Hobson
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Staples, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Elliot Williams, 20 Harry Browne, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Tyrone Green
RC Vannes:15 Joe Jonas, 14 Paul Bard, 13 Marin Boulier, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Enzo Benmegal, 10 Jean Cotarmanac’h, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Rudi Brown, 7 Steeve Blanc-Mappaz, 6 Bautista Pedemonte, 5 Matteo Desjeux, 4 Thomas Ployet, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Theo Beziat, 1 Wayan de Benedittis.
Replacements: 16 Hayam El Bibouji, 17 Hugo Djehi, 18 Simon Bourgeois, 19 Jesse Stegenhuis, 20 Basile Paul, 21 Mikheil Alania, 22 Robin Gicquel, 23 Robin Taccola.
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Peter Allan
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