Harlequins vs Bristol LIVE rugby: Latest updates as visitors run riot after Joe Marler bows out
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The Premiership returns with a potential thriller as two of the league’s most entertaining sides clash at the Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins welcome the high-flying Bristol Bears to their southwest London home with the visitors eyeing top spot in a hugely competitive campaign. Pat Lam’s side have continued to embrace their free-wheeling identity and enjoyed an encouraging start to the season, with a win over champions Northampton before the November international action leaving them well placed.
The hosts, meanwhile, sit six points behind their opponents and within striking distance of the top four. While there is no Marcus Smith tonight as he rests after a busy Autumn Nations Series with England, Alex Dombrandt returns to captain the side. More significantly, the club will say farewell to a legend in Joe Marler, who has brought forward his retirement from rugby from the end of the season to tonight and starts on the loosehead for the final time.
TRY! Harlequins 17-45 BRISTOL (Santiago Grondona, 56 minutes)
Seven more! More gorgeous handling from the Bears up the left and Santiago Grondona has the toe to zoom into the corner. Well well well. This is becoming a proper pasting.
Harlequins 17-38 Bristol, 55 minutes
Things are threatening to unravel for Harlequins here. Simon Kerrod’s return restores them to full complement but that yellow card period cost them 17 points.
TRY! Harlequins 17-38 BRISTOL (Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 53 minutes)
Another Bristol pearler – created and scored by Benhard Janse van Rensburg!
Ooh, this is tasty. A delectable pass off the left hand from the Bristol centre is perfectly weighted for Jack Bates to scamper on to, the wing collecting the pot of gold at the end of a most beautiful rainbow. Bates returns to his colleague, who gambols away in delight. A serious score to leave Harlequins in a serious hole.
Harlequins 17-31 Bristol, 52 minutes
With that out of the way, Harlequins turns their attentions to sparking a turnaround, though they are on the defensive, struggling to escape their own territory and unable to contest for a shallow kick. The danger sirens sound…
Harlequins 17-31 Bristol, 50 minutes
The Twickenham Stoop rises to its feet – the moment has arrived. Over to the touchline Joe Marler trudges for the final time. Barring injury or incident (or another retirement reversal), that’s that for the career of one of England’s great props and Harlequins’ finest servants.
Fin Baxter gives his mentor a big bear hug.
PENALTY! Harlequins 17-31 BRISTOL (AJ MacGinty, 49 minutes)
Over it goes. Bristol extend their advantage.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:54
Harlequins 17-28 Bristol, 47 minutes
A mighty Viliame Mata cleanout draws the ire of the home fans but it appears all was legal in the Bristol man’s challenge. A previous penalty for the Bears is returned to, and AJ MacGinty will take the three points readily on offer.
Harlequins 17-28 Bristol, 46 minutes
A crucial period this for Harlequins – if they can survive this sin bin period without conceding again they will have hopes of a fightback, but another Bristol try may scupper their hopes.
And they almost gift the Bears one! Gabriel Ibitpoyre can’t quite clutch cleanly having got himself in intercepting position.
TRY! Harlequins 17-28 BRISTOL (Viliame Mata, 44 minutes)
And a tidy quick tap routine sends the hulking Viliame Mata over!
The Fijian number eight bursts between the bodies and to the line as Bristol strike fast and first in the second half.
YELLOW CARD! Simon Kerrod is sent to the sin bin! Harlequins 17-21 Bristol, 43 minutes
Disaster for Harlequins! After a kick through, they are turned over five metres from their own line and offside prop Simon Kerrod makes a cynical tackle. Off to the bin he goes…
