Harlequins rally again to dispatch Wasps 26-16 in Gallagher Premiership

Wasps v Harlequins - Gallagher Premiership Rugby
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Marc Mayo7 November 2021

Harlequins came from behind once again to dispatch Wasps 26-16 on Sunday.

The hosts led 16-0 at the interval but Quins left the Coventry Building Society Arena with a bonus point after a second-half rally, earning their third win in a row at Wasps.

Luke Northmore crossed over twice along with tries from Tyrone Green and Scott Steele, with Andre Esterhuizen adding three conversions.

Harlequins famously came from 28-0 down to beat Bristol in last season’s play-off semi-finals and, in another example of their battling spirit, recently overturned a 21-point deficit to defeat the same opponents, and they were forced to dig deep again in this match.

Wasps had 18 players unavailable for selection for this fixture and their injury woes continued when full-back Ali Crossdale was clattered as he attempted a tackle and was carried off on a stretcher. Following a lengthy delay, Marcus Watson replaced him but Wasps immediately overcame that setback to score the opening try.

Esterhuizen lost possession inside the Wasps half and Jacob Umaga picked the ball up and ran 50 metres down the left-hand touchline. When challenged the fly-half threw an overhead pass to Josh Bassett who sent Gabriel Oghre over.

Umaga kicked a second penalty before the visitors suffered an injury blow of their own when wing Cadan Murley was led off.

Wasps prop Robin Hislop was the next casualty after failing a head injury assessment before his side missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead when Oghre greedily went on his own with the line beckoning and the chance was lost.

Umaga kicked his third penalty before Wasps looked to have scored a superb try with brilliant inter-passing ending with Bassett crossing, but TMO replays showed that one of the passes was forward. That left the home side with a 16-0 lead at the end of an injury-disrupted 65-minute half.

However, Harlequins have shown they can never be discounted and within two minutes of the restart they were on the scoreboard when a dart from Care provided Green with an easy run-in.

Wasps v Harlequins - Gallagher Premiership Rugby
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Care was replaced by Steele soon after but Quins, aided by a dominant scrum who won frequent penalties, were now a different proposition and increasingly Wasps were placed on the back foot.

It therefore came as no surprise that Quins scored next when a half-break from Esterhuizen sent Northmore over.

Wasps were now firmly under the cosh and their opponents took the lead for the first time when Steele dashed over from close range before Green had a try ruled out for a forward pass.

However, Wasps could not capitalise and in the dying moments Northmore raced in for his second try of the match to leave the home side with nothing.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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