Relentless Quins showcase their experience in a hard fought game at the Corpacq Stadium
The Sharks immediately put the pressure on the Quins defence in the opening minutes, with Katy Daley-Mclean gaining great ground with her cross-field kick putting the home side five metres from the try-line. Just as Sale looked certain to open the scoring with a pressing maul, they were penalised for holding on after an encouraging opening to the game.
Quins soon found their momentum going forward, with a great attacking move and line-break bursting the away side into the Sharks 22. However, an equally impressive cover tackle from Lisa Neumann thwarted the danger and allowed the home side to regroup after non-stop end to end action in the first ten minutes.
Despite Sale heaping pressure on Quins, it was the away side who got the first try of the afternoon, with Ellie Green getting over after great work from Leanne Riley in the build-up. Green converted her own try to put Quins 0-7 ahead after 20 minutes of play.
Elle Bloor added to Quins’ lead a minute before half-time, with Ellie Green missing the conversion. The away side began the second-half with the same momentum as they ended the first, with Jess Breach running through clear for the third try of the afternoon. Ellie Green was good for the extras, with Quins leading 0-19.
The Sharks heaped pressure on the Quins 22 in the following 15 minutes, in search of their first try, but the away defence stayed strong during this period. Jess Breach further increased the gap between the two sides as she got her second try of the afternoon in the 60th minute, with Lagi Tuima converting. Quins didn’t stop pressing as the game was coming to a close, as Shaunagh Brown got a try of her own a couple of minutes later and Tuima added the extras again.
Sale managed to get their first points on the board in the final six minutes as Katy Daley-Mclean charged over, but the fly-half failed to convert her own try. Harlequins responded by fitting in another couple of tries, as Jess Breach completed her hat-trick to close out an impressive individual display and Abbie Ward charinged over to end the game.
Sale now travel to Worcester on Sunday March 7th.
Sale Sharks XV:
- Abu Marzouq , 2. Fielding, 3. Houghton, 4. V.E. Irwin, 5. Howat, 6. G. Perris Redding, 7. Elbeck, 8. Stafford (C), 9. Roberts, 10. Daley-Mclean, 11. Wallace, 12. Perrin, 13. Calton, 14. Neumann, 15. Wooden
Replacements:
- Kelly , 17. Hellin, 18. Leung, 19. Winter, 20. Hall, 21. I. Perris-Redding , 22. Bawden, 23. Cornforth
Harlequins XV:
- Duffy, 2. Bloor, 3. Brown, 4. Ward, 5. Mew, 6. Brooks, 7. Fletcher, 8. Viksten, 9. Riley, 10. Green, 11. Breach, 12. Tuima, 13. Mayhew, 14. Wilcock, 15. Scott
Replacements:
- Edwards, 17. Cooper, 18. Eddie, 19. Dainton, 20. Aucken, 21. Amory , 22. Mullen, 23. Cowell
