Sharks-bound Bok scores as Quins survive second-half wobble
MATCH REPORT: Harlequins survived another second-half wobble as they beat Glasgow 28-24 in a European Champions Cup last-16 tie in the London rain on Friday.
A week after taking a 37-point lead at Bath in the English Premiership before conceding 33 straight points and clinging to a four-point win, Quins took a 21-7 lead at the break before conceding 21 straight points and only saving themselves with a late try.
“The fans are complaining that they are always on the edge of their seats,”,” flyhalf Marcus Smith said, adding: “Whenever we’re ahead we always let the [other] team in.”
Glasgow jumped into a third-minute lead when lock Scott Cummings plunged over the line.
Quins pressed but, against a ferocious defence and with a slippery ball, struggled to take their chances.
Smith, an England international, found a way through after 24 minutes, his precise crossfield kick bouncing up into the hands of centre Andre Esterhuizen – with the Durban-bound Springbok touching down.
Glasgow paid for repeated offences when centre Sione Tuipulotu was shown a yellow card after 33 minutes.
From the scrum, Smith sidestepped three defenders and scored.
With the last play of the half, Smith’s lightning pass sent wing Cadan Murley over in the corner.
Smith was on fine form with the boot and converted all three tries.
But then in the second half came the Quins wobble and the Glasgow fightback.
Glasgow hooker Johnny Matthews burrowed over after Glasgow pushed Quins back in a maul from a 50th-minute line-out.
Two minutes later, Glasgow’s backs cut the home defence open and George Horne touched down.
The scrumhalf landed his third conversion to level the scores. He then kicked a 59th-minute penalty to give the visitors the lead.
Harlequins prop Joe Marler received a yellow card but, despite winning two penalties close to the Quins line, Glasgow were unable to turn the advantage into points.
As Marler returned, Smith hit an immense clearing kick that fullback Josh McKay fumbled giving the home team possession 20 metres from the Glasgow line.
Quins won two penalties but opted to keep attacking and were rewarded when Sam Riley surged over after a line-out maul with four minutes left, which Smith then duly converted.
Quins survived one last flurry of Glasgow pressure to win a knockout match in the premier European competition for the first time.
“In the last two years we’ve fallen at this hurdle, so that’s a monkey off the back,” said Smith.
The passion after Sam Riley gives @Harlequins their first ever knockout win 😍
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— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 5, 2024
The scorers
For Harlequins
Tries: Esterhuizen, Smith, Murley, Riley
Cons: Smith 4
For Glasgow Warriors
Tries: Cummings, Matthews, G Horne
Cons: G Horne 3
Pen: G Horne
Yellow cards: Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, 33 – repeated infringements), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 61 – cynical foul)
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Will Evans, 6 Stephan Lewies (captain), 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Cameron Anderson
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
