Harlequins (14) 20 Tries: Dorn 2, Gale Goals: Gale 4 Crusaders (12) 18 Tries: Sammut 2, Flower Goals: Schifcofske 3
Full-back Luke Dorn got what proved to be Harlequins' match-winning try
Rob Powell's Harlequins made it two Super League wins out of two as they hung on to beat Crusaders at The Stoop.
Luke Dorn ran in two of their tries as Quins followed up their equally tight opening day 11-4 Magic Weekend win over Catalan Dragons in Cardiff.
And scrum-half Luke Gale added another good individual haul of 12 points, scoring the first of Quins' three tries, as well as kicking four goals.
Jarrod Sammut grabbed two of the three tries for Iestyn Harris's Crusaders.
Quins got revenge for being edged out 16-12 with two late tries when the two sides last met in August at The Gnoll.
But this time Dorn struck in each half to inspire Quins to victory in a match that was in the balance right up to the final hooter.
The only disappointment for Quins was a gate of just 1,766 - lower than anything they have had in the last two seasons at The Stoop.
With persistent rain and a pitch cutting up badly after the Harlequins rugby union side had played on it just 24 hours earlier, a try bonanza never really looked on the cards.
Crusaders also went into the game on the back of a win, having been the weekend's star turn back home in Wales last weekend when they beat Salford 42-12.
There is no doubt in my mind that, over the past few seasons, we would have lost a game like that
Harlequins coach Rob Powell
But, despite Sammut giving the men from Wrexham an early lead, the hosts had the better of the first half, going ahead through tries from Gale and Dorn.
Sammut then struck again, only for Dorn to race clear for a superb try early in the second half, allowing Quins to hold on despite Ben Flower's effort.
Crusaders came desperately close to snatching it at the death when Ryan O'Hara broke clear, but his pass went to ground and the chance was gone.
That sets Quins up for Friday night's first meeting with former coach Brian McDermott when they go to Headingley (25 February, 2000 GMT).
McDermott's Leeds have also won their first two matches, one of only three teams boasting 100% Super League records after two games - and something has to give.
Crusaders play their first home game of the season at the Racecourse Ground next Saturday night when Harris's men meet his old side Bradford (26 February, 1745 GMT).
Harlequins coach Rob Powell: "That was pretty stressful but winning games like this builds confidence. We had a couple of lapses but overall our defence was excellent and that is very much what we are out to achieve this season.
"The great thing for me is as a coach you want the players to care and put themselves on the line for the cause and they are already doing that.
"There is no doubt in my mind that, over the past few seasons, we would have lost a game like that.
"That is no disrespect to what has gone before me - it is just a reality. We needed that level of control to get us to the end and we got it from the likes of Luke Gale and Chad Randall."
Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris: "To win games you need to build pressure on teams but we gave away far too many penalties for that.
"I was not happy with the referee but there is nothing I can do about that now.
"We were a little but scratchy in attack and, to give them credit, Quins probably deserved to win.
"They were well organised and it is never easy to come to London and win. There was a togetherness there though and that is something we will probably have to rely on to get us through this season."
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