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Rugby Union

Impressive Quins pip Saracens

07/09/2008

Harlequins recorded their first win of the season in an enthralling game against Saracens at Twickenham this afternoon.

The better team for much of the game, Quins sustained huge pressure in the final minutes to hold off a determined Saracens side, emerging 24-21 victors.

Quins got off to a blistering start, scoring in the very first minute of the game through winger David Strettle after Saracens fumbled the kick-off and Dean Richards' men ran in the resulting scrum.

Saracens, under coach Eddie Jones i and new signing Steve Borthwick, appeared shell-shocked playing in front of 52,000 fans and for the first part of the game Quins looked far more threatening, especially through their backs.

After 20 minutes, though, Saracens won a penalty with their first meaningful attack of the game, which Glen Jackson slotted over to make the score 5-3.

Their good work was immediately undone though when they conceded a penalty straight afterwards with Nick Evans smashed over the kick from almost the halfway line.

Harlequins' backs continued to threaten, running the Saracens defence ragged for large periods of the first half but frustratingly failed to convert the possession into points.

Saracens, meanwhile, kept on plugging away and missed tackles from the Quins' defence allowed Jones' men to stay in the game and another Jackson penalty made the score 8-6 at half time.

Three minutes after the break, Sarries centre Adam Powell scored a sensational try running from within in his own half and despite Jackson's conversion attempt hitting the post handing Saracens took an 11-8 lead.

If Powell's try was sensational, then Ugo Monye's try in the 50th minutes was shear showmanship. A long lineout outside Saracens' 22 metre line was popped to the winger who strode through the Sarries defence, raising his arm Usain Bolt-style before crossing the line. Evans then slotted over the conversion to make the score 15-11 to Quins.

And another penalty and drop goal from Evans extended Quins' lead to 21-11 shortly afterwards.

Saracens were by no means out of the game though and after a series of quick passes flanker Chris Jack, who had been a peripheral figure for much of the game, set scrum half Neil de Kock free to run in under the post with Jackson kicking the conversion to reduce the deficit to just three points.

Both sides then conceded penalties and in the final few minutes Saracens threw everything at Quins but their defence stood firm and Dean Richards' men held on to record an impressive 24-21 victory.