KO
Stephen Myler to get the game underway, Saints playing towards the Sturtridge end...
SAINTS 0 QUINS 0
1min
Solid start from the visitors and Brown - as you’d expect. The full back gathers the kick off and punts to halfway but Saints are awarded an early penalty from the lineout. Myler gives them an attacking platform inside the Quins 22.
SAINTS 0 QUINS 0
3mins
Two of the outstanding men from six days ago - North and Manoa - are already getting stuck into this game and putting Saints on the front foot. Lawes is chopped down in front of the posts but the tackler doesn’t roll and Myler gets the scoreboard ticking with a routine penalty.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 0
6mins
A Dickson box kick swirls in the wind but Quins are secure enough underneath and launch a series of powerful carries of their own at the Saints. It’s only a matter of time before their first penalty of the night comes and Evans guides it just inside the left upright to level it up.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 3
9mins
As you’d expect, Saints are having to bide their time to find gaps in the Quins defence. Clark hits a good line to do just that but the box kick from Dickson that follows isn’t the greatest and having let it run dead, Quins have a scrum on their own 10m line. First of the night.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 3
10mins
Not surprisingly, the Dickson brothers are having a little scuffle at the side of this particular scrum. Probably looking to keep themselves occupied - this scrum has taken an age to get done. Under his first test of the night, Collins is more than solid gathering Evans’ high kick. Brown is not so under Dickson’s and Burrell’s half break gives his side good territory.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 3
13mins
Evans receives some treatment for a dead leg and you wouldn’t be surprised if Saints fire either North or Burrell at the fly half off the back of this scrum. Dickson’s feed isn’t straight though so Evans lumps the free kick skywards and Collins this time can’t bring in cleanly.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 3
17mins
Brown skids one along the deck and on the sticky Gardens turf it’s another tricky one for Collins to deal with. There also seems to be a little confusion as to whose ball it is and on the floor the young full back knocks on. Quins scrum inside the Saints’ 22.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 3
19mins
Matthews gallops through to go perilously close to the Saints’ line but after the second row is dragged down, more committed defence denies Brown from close range. No way through for Quins, North sweeping up Evans’ grubber but play comes back for a penalty and the Kiwi guides over another three points.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
23mins
Really disjointed game so far and Quins are certainly making the best of a bad situation. Collins cleans up another smart kick well but Saints concede a free kick from the lineout and another farcical scrum follows. Three resets later Quins finally get the ball in properly but the Saints front row drives through for a welcome penalty.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
27mins
And another penalty follows, Myler kicking Saints deep into Quins territory when Manoa is dragged down in the air. Heck of a touch finder from the Saints 10 and it’s a lineout 5m from the Quins line. Another penalty cynically conceded and Guest sees yellow for his troubles.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
29mins
Scrappy lineout ball does come back on the Saints’ side but Quins get to the man and wrap him up for a scrum. Frustration for Saints - even more so when the ball is hooked back on their side only for referee Garner to call for a reset.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
31mins
Call this one Scrumgate - no one seems to know what’s going on and the referee’s arm goes up in favour of the visitors’ lightened pack after this one. Robshaw fumbles Robson’s knock down from the lineout though so, you’ve guessed it, we’re back to the scrum!
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
34mins
Quins look to be the side galvanised by the yellow card and having already driven out a scrum penalty, Saints are turned over in open play. It’s not long before we’re scrumming down again following a Quins knock on and this time it’s a Saints penalty. Remarkable.
SAINTS 3 QUINS 6
37mins
Manoa steamrollers more Quins defenders and scrapping hard under their own posts the visitors seem content to yield the penalty. Another easy one for Myler as Guest returns from the bin.
SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
40mins
Brown goes into contact in midfield and Quins have an immediate penalty chance to respond. Into the breeze here at the Gardens though Evans does’t fancy it and a kick to touch ends in a poor short lineout. Saints scrum and Dickson knocks it off the park to end a scrappy half.
SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
HT
Given the conditions and how well matched the two sides are, it’s no surprise that the opening 40 has ended level. That said around half of the game has been tangled up in a seemingly endless string of scrums - let’s hope the second half gives a frustrated full house something to cheer about!
SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
40mins
Looks like Quins have been forced into a change. Evans has succumbed, presumably to his dead leg, and his replacement Botica restarts the game…
SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
42mins
Solid lineout ball for Quins and an early cross kick for Collins to deal with. The full back takes his time, calls for a mark and clears well to touch. Ward attracting jeers as he takes his time cleaning the ball for his next throw and with this take less than clean, there’s then an obstruction in the maul. Scrum Saints…
SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
44mins
TRYYY!!! Horror for Quins as Myler thumps a free kick into the rainy Gardens air. The ball bounces off a chest and falls into Dowson’s lap and with men spare out wide, Pisi gallops forward. There’s a knock on but with K Dickson kicking possession right down North’s throat, the big wing lines up Walker, sits his man down and slides into the left corner.
SAINTS 11 QUINS 6
46mins
Considering he needed Dickson to spot the ball in the swirling wind, that’s a pearler of a wide conversion from Myler. Two excellent contributions have got the Gardens crowd going.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
49mins
A scrum penalty against the head draws further cheers and Saints have got the momentum here. Even when the lineout is lost, Collins picks up Botica’s kick and a thumping blow pins the visitors back. Botica’s clearance doesn’t make it out of the 22 and Saints can attack once more.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
51mins
Quins haven’t found a legal way to deal with the Saints maul yet and another such offence ends in Myler kicking to the corner. Saints obviously feeling they need to make the most of their time on top but it’s another lineout lost and K Dickson pegs them back to the 22m line.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
53mins
Another, more central penalty for the Saints and this time no time is wasted in pointing to the posts. Dickson again tends the ball for Myler but the fly half looks uncomfortable with his dead leg and hooks a kick he would usually have landed in his sleep.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
56mins
Saints asking all the questions at the minute and Harlequins don’t have the answer to this one. Ball lost into touch though, Quins then poach the lineout and get their hands not he ball for the first time in this half, edging their way into Saints territory.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
58mins
Penalty right on the centre spot but Botica makes the cardinal error of missing touch. Collins hits a clearance to halfway and the visitors are back to where they started. Quins’ Kiwi kicker gets a let off though, a high tackle allowing him to punt another penalty into the Saints’ 22.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
60mins
Penalty Saints and one Myler clears for some welcome relief. Quins weren’t ever close there but killing their momentum early could prove vital. Saints make a couple of changes, Wood and Fotuali’i on for Dowson and Dickson as the hosts look to freshen up.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
63mins
It’s looks like Saints have pinched another one but referee Garner not only awards Quins a penalty, but also goes to the TMO to see how K Dickson injured a hand. Only foul play is the original decision and Botica calls for the tee 45m out.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 6
64mins
Lovely crisp strike from Botica and Quins hit back to within a score of the lead. Questionable penalty though.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 9
66mins
It’s all going off here! There’s a scrap off the ball and then Collins appears to be checked chasing his own chip. As the game breaks up Botica takes Quins over halfway but the Saints’ breakdown king Clark clamps himself over the ball and wins his side a penalty.
SAINTS 13 QUINS 9
66mins
Play has taken a pause, referee Garner asking the TMO to have a look at what led to the earlier scuffle on the instruction of his touch judge. Four minutes or so later the decision is nothing and instead, Saints get the penalty for the foul play on Collins. The TMO’s help is needed again to decipher where the ball landed and FINALLY, Myler lines up a penalty. Crazy few minutes!
SAINTS 13 QUINS 9
68mins
Myler back on song, taking the Saints’ lead back to seven points. Ethan and Mercey come on for Alex and Ma’afu.
SAINTS 16 QUINS 9
69mins
Day hooks a lineout from Robson’s grasp but a spill on the opposite flank allows the visitors to regain possession. It’s not long before they offend at the breakdown though, going in at the side to desperately protect the ball and giving Myler a chance to take the game upfield.
SAINTS 16 QUINS 9
71mins
Yet again Quins illegally counter the Saints’ lineout drive and now Hartley’s throw in will be inside Quins’ 22. Another brutal maul is sacked and it’s Doran Jones who sees yellow as Saints go to the corner and look to kill the game off.
SAINTS 16 QUINS 9
72mins
TRY!! Quins tap Hartley’s lineout back but as it bounces over the try line it’s the Saints skipper who reacts quickest and he pounces to get the ball down. TMO has a little look before the try is awarded! Myler, now ably assisted by Fotuali’i, bounces the conversion over off the bar from wide.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
74mins
Manoa and try scorer Hartley depart - knowing the skipper he’ll probably claim it was a set move! On come Dickinson and Haywood as North scares the daylights out of Botica under a high ball and Saints win another penalty as an offside man picks it up.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
75mins
More changes for the Saints, G Dickson replacing a still hobbling Myler and Autagavaia coming on for a debut - much to the crowd’s delight as stadium announcer Geoff Allen calls out the Samoan’s name!
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
76mins
An air of expectation as Autagavaia reins in a high ball and charges forwards. He doesn’t disappoint either, splintering a couple of Quins defenders and sparking another Saints attack. The hosts have utterly dominated this second 40.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
77mins
Quins throwing the dice as they desperately look to get something out of this game and a huge collision between Pisi and Hopper brings a pause in play for another TMO decision. Penalty and a yellow card for the centre, deemed to have gone in slightly high and dangerously.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
80mins
Quins still playing but time on the clock is up and the best they can hope for is a losing bonus. Hartley announced as Aviva man of the match as the visitors run a penalty.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
FT
Saints drive through for another turnover and it’s Ethan Waller of all people who spins and punts to the stands!
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
FT
Excellent second half from the Saints who took this game by the scruff of the neck. North’s brilliant try was the catalyst and with skipper Hartley adding an opportune second, it’s another win over a top four side at home and notably, another rival leaves the Gardens empty-handed.
SAINTS 23 QUINS 9
TIMELINE
5mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-0
7mins QUINS Pen Evans 3-3
20mins QUINS Pen Evans 3-6
28mins QUINS Yellow Guest
28mins SAINTS Pen Myler 6-6
HALF-TIME SAINTS 6 QUINS 6
64mins QUINS Pen Botica 13-9
68mins SAINTS Pen Myler 16-9
72mins SAINTS Try Hartley Con Myler 23-9
FULL-TIME SANTS 23 QUINS 9
SAINTS
Collins; Elliott, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, L Dickson; A Waller, Hartley (capt), Ma’afu, Lawes, Day, Clark, Dowson, Manoa
Reps - Haywood, E Waller, Mercey, Dickinson, Wood, Fotuali’i, G Dickson, Autagavaia
QUINS
Brown; Walker, Hopper, Molenaar, Smith; Evans, K Dickson; Marler, Ward, Collier, Matthews, Robson, Guest, Robshaw (capt), Easter
Reps - Crumpton, Lambert, Doran Jones, Kennedy, Trayfoot, Stuart, Botica, Lindsay-Hague
Aviva Man of the Match: Dylan Hartley
Referee: Greg Garner
Att: 13,475
