Leeds (3) 6 Pens: Di Bernardo 2 Harlequins (11) 32 Tries: Brown, Care, Evans, Skinner Cons: Jarvis 3 Pens: Jarvis 2
 Quins scrum-half Danny Care tormented his former club |
Harlequins moved into second in the Premiership after a four-try bonus point performance condemned Leeds to yet another defeat at Headingley. Full-back Mike Brown opened the scoring on 13 minutes, with Adrian Jarvis adding six points with two penalties. But Quins turned on the style in the second half with Danny Care, Jim Evans and Will Skinner all touching down and Jarvis kicking a further six points. All of Leeds's points came from the boot of fly-half Alberto di Bernardo. The defeat - Leeds's 16th from 19 matches this season - effectively sealed the Premiership's bottom side relegation to National League One. Brown opened the scoring when he outjumped Richard Welding to secure Jarvis's hanging cross-field kick to touch down in the right corner, but Jarvis failed to add the two points from the conversion.  | 606: DEBATE |
Leeds' treacherous task was further hindered when hooker Vili Ma'asi was sin-binned for kicking the ball away in a ruck. And although Di Bernardo slotted over a 16th-minute penalty, Jarvis extended the visitors' lead with two penalties before the half-time interval. An early second-half penalty from Argentine Di Bernardo cut the deficit to five, but it was the last points Leeds scored in the game as Quins imposed their authority. With his team in the ascedency, Quins boss Dean Richards introduced England wing David Strettle for his first appearance since sustaining a metatarsal injury against Wales in the Six Nations opener in February. Former Leeds scrum-half Care bundled over after from close range on 62 minutes before Evans added to the tally three minutes later, with Jarvis converting both scores. And Quins claimed a bonus point in the final minute when Skinner forced his way over from point-blank range, with Jarvis adding the two points for an emphatic away victory.
Harlequins boss Dean Richards:
"I'd like to think Danny (Care) is right up there in the top three scrum-halves in England. "He obviously doesn't have the international experience that some of the other
guys have got, but he's got some fantastic skills and is a very quick learner. "If they're going to take three scrum-halves to New Zealand, which I think
they probably will do, then I'd like to think Danny is in contention to be
included." Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster:
"Most of our players will be staying here, and we're hoping to make an
announcement shortly on players coming in."
Leeds: Hinton, Welding, Vickerman, Tuilagi, Rock, di Bernardo, Bedford; MacDonald, Ma'asi, Hopcroft, Bouza, Hooper (capt), Oakley, Fourie, Clark. Replacements: Pala'amo, Rawlinson, Lund, Balding, Edwards, Burrell, Greendale. Harlequins: Brown, Williams, Monye, Turner-Hall, Keogh; Jarvis, Care; Jones Fuga, Ross, Kohn, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner (capt), Guest. Replacements: Botha, Brooks, Evans, Easter, Gomarsall, Strettle, Barry.
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