Why Celebrate Christmas When We've Got Easter

Harlequins 24 – 18 Leinster

Two second half tries from Nick Easter and Asaeli Tikoirotuma was just enough for Harlequins to edge out Leinster in a hard fought battle at the Stoop.

However, with the two sides meeting again next weekend Quins director of rugby Conor O’Shea isn’t getting carried away and expects to receive a fierce reaction from the Dublin faithful.

“I’m delighted for the players and supporters, but it’s only the half-time in Europe.

“I thought the effort and work rate were excellent and summed up by the way Nick Easter kept going to the bitter end of the try.

“We got a bit of fortune for the interception, but we need things like that to get ourselves going.

“It’s a great start and a great day for the club, but we know what will be coming next week. We have to go over and try and get something over there” added O’Shea.

There was nothing to split the two teams in the first half as it was dominated by the boot as Leinster centre Ian Madigan and Quins fly half Nick Evans exchanged penalties in the first 10 minutes.

However, Evans was forced off shortly after with a groin injury which meant a European debut for South African Tim Swiel.

The 21 year old had a chance to settle his nerves on 17 minutes and get points on the board, but his penalty went wide of the posts.

Three minutes after the young fly half found his range to give the home side a 6 – 3 lead.

Both defences were battling hard and with the penalty count ranking up Madigan was able to bring the scores level once again and on the half hour mark the away side could of regained the lead however, fly half Jimmy Gopperth was unable to score his penalty.

This left Swiel and Madigan landing another penalty each before the break as both sides went into the half all square at 9 – 9.

Half – Time – Harlequins 9 – 9 Leinster

Seven minutes into the second half Madigan nailed his fourth penalty of the game to put the Dublin side in the lead once again. 

Nevertheless, it was Quins who were able to get the first try of the game after a huge amount of pressure Easter was able to crash his way through the defence and was able to stretch and ground the ball on the try line, after going to the TMO referee Jerome Garces awarded the try.

When Swiel added the conversion Leinster upped the tempo and went on the attack and as they were looking for a breakthrough Rob Kearney’s pass to Zane Kirchner was well intercepted by Tikoirotuma and the Fijian winger raced 80 metres to score.

Even though Swiel missed his conversion the hosts had a healthy 21 – 12 lead on the hour mark, but more ill discipline would come to their downfall as Madigan scored two more penalties and closed the gap to three points with 10 minutes left.

Then some clever thinking by scrum half Danny Care took advantage of some space to score a late drop goal to make sure there was no way back for the Irish side.

Scorecard

3 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 0 – 3

6 mins – Evans (Pen) – 3 – 3

19 mins – Swiel (Pen) – 6 – 3

25 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 6 – 6

35 mins – Swiel (Pen) – 9 – 6

39 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 9 – 9

HT – Harlequins 9 – 9 Leinster

47 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 9 – 12

53 mins – Easter (Try) – 14 – 12

53 mins – Swiel (Con) – 16 – 12

58 mins – Tikoirotuma (Try) – 21 – 12

66 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 21 – 15

69 mins – Madigan (Pen) – 21 – 18

74 mins – Care (Drop Goal) – 24 – 18

FT – Harlequins 24 – 18 Leinster