Harlequins vs Bristol LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after visitors run riot to spoil Joe Marler’s farewell
After a busy autumn of international action, the Premiership returns with what should be an enteertaining clash
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Your support makes all the difference.Bristol Bears moved to the top of the Premiership as the visitors produced a statement performance against Harlequins to spoil Joe Marler’s farewell.
The high-flying Bears ran riot at the Twickenham stoop, showcasing all the flicks and tricks that make Pat Lam’s side the league’s great entertainers. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Gabriel Ibitoye and Viliame Mata - making a long-awaited debut after an injury-hit time since a summer switch from Edinburgh - were all to the fore in a 48-24 win.
It took the shine off a night where the hosts said adieu to one of their finest servants. Having announced his international retirement during November, prop Marler had brought forward his club curtain call. He departed just before the 50-minute mark to a standing ovation - one of precious few on a difficult night for the London club in the absence of Marcus Smith.
Re-live all of the action from the Stoop in our live blog below:
FT: Harlequins 24-48 Bristol
Mightily, mightily impressive from the visitors as Harlequins wqere comprehensively put to the sword. The two squads give Joe Marler a special tunneled farewell on a disappointing night for the retiring prop and his teammates.
Harlequins 24-48 Bristol, 79 minutes
A forward pass from an offloading Alex Dombrandt goes unspotted by the officials, but a knock on from Nick David does not. That should be that, unless Bristol fancy one more gallop.
Harlequins 24-48 Bristol, 77 minutes
The hosts begin to threaten inside the Bristol 22 but the Bears read a rather lax pass, picking it off. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (who appears to have gone to fly half) belts the ball 60 metres upfield and leads the chase to make an outstanding spot tackle on Rodrigo Isgro. He’s some player.
Harlequins 24-48 Bristol, 75 minutes
Up at Kingston Park, a seismic shock is very much on - Newcastle still lead Saracens by 12 points with time running short. Wow.
In our somewhat less interesting encounter, young playmaker Jamie Benson is on for Harlequins at inside centre.
PENALTY! Harlequins 24-48 BRISTOL (AJ MacGinty, 74 minutes)
Straight and true. That’s AJ MacGinty’s last act, replaced by youngster Oscar Lennon.
Harlequins 24-45 Bristol, 72 minutes
More vibrant stuff from Bristol as they gobble up 40 metres with ease. An offside penalty should allow the very, very impressive AJ MacGinty to nudge them closer to 50.
Harlequins 24-45 Bristol, 68 minutes
Harlequins are then pinged at a midfield breakdown. Bristol work away to the right from a lineout on the left with Gabriel Ibitoye used as a roaming receiver, his transfer fast and accurate as Jack Bates again makes metres. That’s good from Quins, though, Alex Dombrandt over the top in a picture-perfect jackal to earn a penalty.
Harlequins 24-45 Bristol, 66 minutes
A couple of penalties allow Harlequins to foray down towards the Bristol 22, but an inefficient lineout drill costs them 20 metres.
The attacking play is spritely and Tyrone Green scurries for a gap, though it is soon cut off as Bristol scramble well. Green ambitiously tosses off his chest straight into touch.
TRY! HARLEQUINS 24-45 Bristol (Tyrone Green, 64 minutes)
He has! An offload was knocked back by the hands of Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou and Tyrone Green was sharpest to react. He toes the ball beyond Kieran Marmion like a football winger aware he’s got the beating of his marker for pace, rounding the retreating scrum half in pursuit of the ball and holding off the Bristol tackler to ground emphatically. Over goes the conversion - now then?....
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