Quins beat mighty Toulouse to boost European chances
TOULOUSE (24) vs HARLEQUINS (31)
HARLEQUINS took their superb start to the season to new heights by coming from behind to score a thrilling win at four-time European champions Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.
The Premiership leaders trailed 19-15 after an hour but Mike Brown’s second try and the unerring boot of Nick Evans, who kicked 16 points, gave their chances of progressing from Pool Six a huge boost.
It leaves Quins, who suffered their first defeat of the whole campaign against the Frenchmen at the Stoop last week, on 12 points from four matches, just one behind Toulouse with two group fixtures remaining.
“It was do or die for us in the competition. I’m very proud of the guys and it was a great day for us. To come here and take the victory is huge and puts our Heineken Cup hopes right back on track,” said captain Chris Robshaw. “Last week we were in too much awe of them but today we gave it everything. We stuck in there in the second half when they seemed to be gaining the momentum.”
Quins raced into a 15-3 lead with full-back Brown’s first try and another from hooker Joe Gray, but Yoann Maestri and four successful Jean-Marc Doussain kicks put the hosts in front.
Brown and Evans wrestled the match back in Quins favour, and the fly-half’s kicking saw them through, despite a Doussain try and the sin-binning of England No8 Nick Easter.