Quins edge Dragons duel
Harlequins moved off the bottom of the Super League table with a battling 16-12 victory over Catalans Dragons at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Last Updated: 14/08/10 8:06pm
Harlequins moved off the bottom of the Super League table with a battling 16-12 victory over Catalans Dragons at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Hopes of a much-needed away triumph appeared over when Quins relinquished a 10-0 lead early in the second half, however a late try from Andy Ellis gave Brian McDermott's side the win.
Two tries inside the opening 12 minutes from Tony Clubb and Luke Dorn put the visitors in the box seat, only for Dragons to hit back through Dane Carlaw and Sebastien Raguin.
But Quins had the final say, Ellis sneaking between the posts after a fine break from the inspirational Dorn.
Referred
It was the visitors who started the brighter, and, after Catalans coughed up the ball early in the tackle count, Quins made them pay as a smart blind-side move saw Rob Purdham put Clubb over to open the scores. Purdham failed to add the extras.
Quins then increased their lead on 12 minutes when Dorn latched on Luke Gale's neat kick through to touchdown under the posts, Purdham this time adding the simple conversion.
Catalans thought they had got themselves back into the game when Chris Walker looked to have touched down, but the try was turned down after being referred to the video referee.
Harlequins went close to extending their lead further when a Purdham kick rebounded off the crossbar into the hands of Chris Melling, but he just failed to find David Mills with his offload.
The home side flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and got themselves on the board in the 43rd minute as full-back Clint Greenshields put Carlaw in for a try. Thomas Bosc added the conversion to trim the lead to four points.
And the French side could have taken the lead when Setaimata Sa broke clear moments later, but his flick pass was knocked on by William Barthau.
Superb break
But that miss only proved to be a brief reprieve for Quins as Greenshields this time laid on a try for Raguin in the left corner. Bosc's conversion making it 12-10.
The home side continued to press, and breaks by Walker, Raguin and Greenshields gave the Dragons field position, but the final pass or kick fell into Quins' hands.
And they were punished for the failure to take their chances when the visitors regained the lead with six minutes to go.
A superb break by Dorn set up the position for Ellis to race under the posts. Purdham added the conversion to give the visitors a four-point lead.
But there was more drama to come as Gale was sin-binned for an off-the-ball challenge, gifting the Catalans one last chance to attack.
Bosc put in a kick to the in-goal area but it just evaded the chasing Walker.
