Harlequins (24) 40
Tries: Gale, Bailey, Dorn, Clubb, Melling, Randall, O'Callaghan
Goals: Gale 6
Wakefield (4) 22
Tries: Morton, Rinaldi, Hickey, Johnson
Goals: Moore 3

Luke Gale was the first of seven try scorers for Harlequins

Harlequins ended their nightmare run with a first win in 13 Super League games over fellow strugglers Wakefield.

Luke Gale scored the opening try, then set up the next two for Chris Bailey and Luke Dorn, also kicking 12 points.

Tony Clubb crossed and Gale's boot made it 24-0 before a Dale Morton try opened Wakefield's account before the break.

Chris Melling, Chad Randall and Jamie O'Callaghan added tries for Quins, with Julien Rinaldi, Jarred Hickey and Paul Johnson going over for Wakefield.

Quins, who had picked up just one point in 12 games, remain 12th. But they are now three points ahead of Wakefield, who have been in the bottom two all season.

The London side dominated from the start, Randall setting up Gale after Bailey was held following a surging run.

Gale then set up Bailey to run under the posts, the stand-off making it two from two with the conversion.

Hickey was held up over the line after barging his way through and Dorn made him pay, storming through after Luke Ambler had created a gap for Gale.

If we can keep performing like that, we will give ourselves a competitive chance of finishing the season strongly Harlequins coach Rob Powell

Clubb powered through a serious of tackles to put Quins in control, before Morton crossed in the corner to make sure Wakefield did not go into the break scoreless.

After the break, Melling went over after a tidy Randall pass and Wildcats scrum-half Jeremy Smith was shown yellow for dissent.

But it was the Yorkshire side who scored next, Rinaldi pouncing after his kick had been fumbled behind his own line by Dorn.

O'Callaghan set up Randall and then scored a try of his own after good work by Mike Burnett.

Hickey and Johnson scored late tries for Wakefield but the game was long up by then.

Harlequins coach Rob Powell:

"We are in the process of rebuilding our season. The fight has never gone from the players and in all honesty I expected things to turn around before now.

"But, if we can keep performing like that, we will give ourselves a competitive chance of finishing the season strongly.

"I know they can play like that and the challenge for us now is to keep that level. There was an intensity in training and I was expecting a reaction - just not a 40-point reaction."

Wakefield coach John Kear:

"As tight and composed as we were last week we were loose and soft today. There were a lot of areas for us to pick up on.

"We have a real problem putting back to back performances together. Harlequins ran harder, tackled harder and showed greater desire.

"If you want to be a Super League player you cannot just expect things to happen - you have to have the hunger."

Harlequins: Dorn; Melling, Clubb, O'Callaghan, Calderwood; Gale, Briggs; Ward, Randall, Wilkes, Burnett, Mitchell, Bailey.

Replacements: Krasniqi, Ambler, Ellis, Thomas.

Wakefield: Tony; Morton, Murphy, George, Griffin; Moore, Smith; Korkidas, Davey, Amor, Mariano, Dean, P Johnson.

Replacements: Henderson, Rinaldi, Higgins, Hickey.

Attendance: 2,875.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version