Green scores as Quins sees off Saracens

MATCH REPORT: Harlequins handed Saracens their first defeat of the 2025/26 PREM season with a 20-14 win at Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.

Saracens were playing catch-up from early on and threatened to complete a thrilling comeback in the closing stages, but had to settle for a losing bonus point against their local rivals.

The visitors showed good intent in the opening exchanges.

A spiral bomb from Owen Farrell caused chaos in the backfield, and then Hugh Tizard almost put Tom Willis through a gap with a smart offload, but despite their intent, it was Quins who would open the scoring.

Sustained pressure in the 22 metre area of Saracens put Harlequins within striking distance.

Marcus Smith danced his way over the line to open the scoring with nine minutes played. He converted his own try to make it 7-0.

The hosts were enjoying most of the possession in the opening quarter, and their huge physicality was putting the visitors under real pressure.

Another spell in the 22 metre area was quickly halted, however, as Willis’ excellent breakdown work earned his side a much-needed penalty.

Quins had a huge chance to extend their lead with 20 minutes on the clock as they kicked a penalty to within five metres of the tryline, but some outstanding maul defence forced a turnover and gave Sarries some much-needed ball.

They then used that ball in the best way possible to get on the board with a beauty of a try.

Farrell put Lucio Cinti through a gap, and he drew in the final man before releasing Fergus Burke, who ran clear from 30 metres. The conversion made it 7-all with half an hour on the clock.

That seemed to spark the hosts back into life, who thought they had responded straight away as Smith danced over for his second, but after a TMO check, the try was disallowed and Sarries breathed a huge sigh of relief.

From that scrum Quins did get a penalty, however, and Smith kicked it through the posts to give his side a 10-7 lead with 33 minutes gone.

There was another chance for the hosts just before the break from turnover ball, but they kicked in behind, and it trickled dead, which allowed the visitors to clear their lines.

Sarries made one more opportunity from a penalty, which was kicked to the corner, but as they spread the ball wide, it went forward, and then headed down the tunnel with a three-point deficit.

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It was a nightmare start to the second half for the visitors, as Quins pounced within two minutes of the restart to extend their lead.

The visitors had possession but spilt it, and Tyrone Green hacked the ball ahead and won the footrace to dot down under the posts.

The extras were added by Smith as the lead grew to 10 points.

Quins then had another chance to land a potentially knockout blow with a maul just five metres from the line, but more ferocious defence from the North Londoners just about kept them in touching distance.

Saracens were being forced to work off scraps with a lack of possession and territory; however, they did manage to wrestle their way into the 22 metre area on the hour mark.

Two successive penalties gave them a five-metre line-out, but the ball went forward at the breakdown, which summed up a frustrating afternoon for them.

Just when it looked like the match might be slipping away from Sarries, they responded with a much-needed try to get right back in to proceedings.

Some great hands took them to within a few metres, and Farrell’s inch-perfect cross-field kick found Ben Earl in acres of space, who dotted down in the corner.

The conversion was good and brought Sarries back to only three points behind with 15 minutes to go.

Quins appeared to have put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go as Boris Wenger stretched over the line, but in dramatic fashion, the try was disallowed for a double movement, and Sarries were still in it.

Just as the visitors looked to steal a march, though, they were penalised for offside and Smith kicked it straight between the posts to give them a six-point lead.

It all came down to the final minute with everything still to play for, but eventually the hosts would stand firm and inflict a first defeat of the PREM season on Saracens.

Scorers

For Harlequins:
Tries: Smith, Green
Cons: Smith 2
Pens: Smith 2

For Saracens:
Tries: Burke, Earl
Cons: Farrell 2

Teams

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Jamie Benson, 11 Candan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Will Porter, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Will Evans, 6 Jack Kenningham, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Boris Wegner, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Johnny Green, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Stu Townsend, 23 Sean Kerr

Saracens: 15 Max Malins, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Olaminde Sodeke, 21 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 22 Charlie Bracken, 23 Brandon Jackson

Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Jonathan Cook, Jonathan Healy
TMO: Stuart Terhegge