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Quins move into second place following Leeds victory

13/04/2008

Harlequins have gone second in the Guinness Premiership table thanks to a 32-6 win over bottom-of-the-table Leeds.

Quins have leapfrogged Bath and Sale, although both those sides now have a game in hand on Dean Richards' men.

Harlequins secured a bonus point win over their relegation-threatened opponents at Headingley and are now just two points behind leaders Gloucester.

Full-back Mike Brown opened the scoring for the visitors and fly-half Adrian Jarvis slotted over two penalties.

Leeds responded with a penalty from Alberto di Bernardo but only managed to keep the score close at half time thanks to some good defence work as they trailed 11-3.

But in the second half the visitors managed to get the points that their dominance deserved. Scrum-half Danny Care breached the Leeds defence before Jim Evans scored.

Jarvis added a further two penalties to his first-half haul and in the closing minutes Will Skinner crossed the whitewash for Quins' fourth try and the valuable bonus point.

Leeds play Gloucester next week knowing that defeat will confirm their relegation to League One.

Elsewhere Newcastle Falcons continued to struggle, suffering another defeat at home, this time at the hands of London Irish.

Peter Hewat gave the visitors an early lead with a penalty before Declan Danaher crossed the line to give Irish an 8-0 lead at the break.

Danaher touched down again straight after the restart to put Newcastle in trouble and all the Falcons could muster in reply was a Jonny Wilkinson penalty and a try for Tim Visser in the 79th minute.

Despite the win Irish remain in eighth place but close the gap to Saracens who are now just one point above them.