REPORT: Harlequins 21 - 19 Bristol Rugby

Tries from Tom Varndell, Tusi Pisi and Ryan Edwards saw Bristol outscore the hosts by three tries to two, with Marland Yarde and Joe Marchant crossing for Quins and Nick Evans kicking 11 points. Gavin Henson kicked two conversions for Bristol.

In driving rain, Quins enjoyed the lion’s share of a scrappy opening quarter but were twice denied by Bristol captain Jack Lam, who earned a penalty at the breakdown, before dislodging the ball from Kyle Sinckler’s grasp just seven metres short.

The next 20 minutes though, was all Bristol, as Will Hurrell set the tone with two bulldozing runs – before fly-half Tusi Pisi broke free and fed Ryan Edwards, who was hauled down short.

Bristol’s first points on their top-flight return came courtesy of a man with 85 Premiership tries to his name already, as Tom Varndell intercepted Danny Care’s wide pass to cruise in under the posts.

Henson converted and soon after, Nick Evans got Quins on the board with a penalty.

But it wasn’t long before Henson was called back into the action, adding the extras from under the posts after Pisi had scythed his way through the Quins midfield to slide in for a fine individual score.

It was to be Henson’s final contribution of the afternoon, as he left the field with an injury to be replaced by Ben Mosses – and on 38 minutes, Quins registered their first try of the season, with Marland Yarde the beneficiary of a driving maul.

Minutes later, the hosts crossed for their second courtesy of Joe Marchant, who latched on to Yarde’s pass before sliding under the posts – Evans’ conversion ensured they would take a 15-14 lead into the half-time break.

But early in the second-half, Ryan Edwards’ persistence was rewarded when he took advantage of loose ball to dab down in the corner and put Bristol into a 19-15 lead.

On 58 minutes, a Nick Evans penalty reduced the deficit to a single point – and the fly-half’s third of the afternoon edged Quins into a two-point lead they would not relinquish.

With 13 minutes remaining, Varndell almost latched on to Pisi’s grubber in the left-hand corner – and with the Bristol fans in fine voice at Rugby HQ, Olly Robinson’s charge down could have resulted in a fourth try, only for Chisholm to touch down in goal.

Late on, Ruaridh Jackson’s penalty drifted wide of the posts and despite a late rally, Bristol were forced to settle for a losing bonus-point as time ticked away.

TEAMS:

Bristol Rugby: Jack Wallace, Ryan Edwards, Will Hurrell, Gavin Henson (Mosses 29), Tom Varndell, Tusi Pisi, Will Cliff (Williams 64); Soane Tonga’uiha (Traynor 62), Ross McMillan (Brooker 59), Gaston Cortes, James Phillips (Joyce 56), Ben Glynn, Jon Fisher (Eadie 61), Jack Lam (c), Jordan Crane (Robinson 66).

Replacements: Chris Brooker, Kyle Traynor, Anthony Perenise, Joe Joyce, Olly Robinson, Mitch Eadie, Rhodri Williams, Ben Mosses.

Harlequins: Ross Chisholm, Marland Yarde, Joe Marchant, Jamie Roberts, Tim Visser (Alofa Alofa 67), Nick Evans (Jackson 73), Danny Care (c); Joe Marler, Rob Buchanan (Ward 56), Kyle Sinckler (Collier 56), Sam Twomey (Merrick 59), James Horwill, Chris Robshaw, Luke Wallace, Jack Clifford (Luamanu).

Replacements: Dave Ward, Owen Evans, Will Collier, George Merrick, Mat Luamanu, Karl Dickson, Ruaridh Jackson, Alofa Alofa.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Attendance: 47,092