Quins Shone Brightest Under Sunday Night Lights

Wasps 16 – 23 Harlequins

Harlequins won a very tight domestic battle against Wasps to set up a Pool 2 back – to – back decider against Leinster in December.

Wasps were hoping to get their first win of the tournament after letting a lead slip to lose to Leinster last week, while Harlequins followed up their 23 – 16 win against Castres at Adams Park.

Quins were the better side with points coming from a Charlie Matthews try and were also awarded a penalty try plus 13 points from Nick Even’s boot and while Wasps competed strongly with Joe Simpson scoring his sides only try and Andy Goode adding 11 points from a conversion and three penalties.

The home side’s key players failed to add their spark with Ashley Johnson and Nathan Hughes were anonymous throughout most of the game while Christian Wade had no opportunities on the wing.

The game took a while to get started, but on the 11 minutes while Wasps had a scare with fly half Goode being forced off, his opposite number Evans kicked a penalty to get the first points of the game. The hosts’ could of replied with two kickable penalties but with Goode still on the sidelines, they went for a line out and scrum which came to nothing as they lost both.

Wasps did have another opportunity on 19 minutes and with Goode back on the pitch they went for the posts and the fly half got the scores level for about three minutes as another Evans penalty regained the lead for Quins.

The away team became more dominate as the game went on and they looked to have scored the first try of the evening. A good pass from George Lowe to David Ward through a gap and the hooker made 30 metres before getting tackled and with the momentum going their way Matthews appeared to have crush over to score but the TMO ruled the lock had been held up.

On 30 minutes Wasps took the lead as Simpson ripped the ball from Luke Wallace on the visitors 22 to score a terrific solo try and Goode’s conversion put the home side ahead for the first time.

Harlequins quickly replied and produced a glorious flowing team effort which ended with Mike Brown showing great handling to draw in three defenders to pass to Man – of – the – Match Matthews to go over and with Evans adding the extras Quins went into the break with a 13 – 10 lead.

Half – Time – Wasps 10 – 13 Harlequins

Wasps fumbled the restart and quickly conceded another penalty with Evans scoring to extend their advantage, but Goode brought the game level converting two penalties, one coming from his own half.

It was all to play for in the final quarter and Quins pack decided to put matters into their own hands as a powerful scrum drove the Wasps pack back from their own put in. Then from the reset Harlequins did it again and with Nick Easter controlling things the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try that Evans converted.

Even though the fly half missed two more penalties late on Harlequins remained in control until the final whistle.

Scorecard

11 mins – Evans (Pen) – 0 – 3

19 mins – Goode (Pen) – 3 – 3

21 mins – Evans (Pen) – 3 – 6

30 mins – Simpson (Try) – 8 – 6

31 mins – Goode (Con) – 10 – 6

37 mins – Matthews (Try) – 10 – 11

38 mins – Evans (Con) – 10 – 13

Half – Time – Wasps 10 – 13 Harlequins

42 mins – Evans (Pen) – 10 – 16

49 mins – Goode (Pen) – 13 – 16

58 mins – Goode (Pen) – 16 – 16

63 mins – Penalty Try – 16 – 21

64 mins – Evans (Con) – 16 – 23

Full – Time – Wasps 16 – 23 Harlequins