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Page last updated at 19:06 GMT, Saturday, 3 October 2009 20:06 UK

Harlequins 13-11 Bath

Harlequins (3) 13
Try: Easter Con: Evans Pens: Evans 2
Bath (6) 11
Try: Hape Pens: Little 2

Harlequins back Rory Clegg gets away from Bath centre Shontayne Hape
Harlequins battled back for a dramatic win at The Stoop

Nick Easter's injury-time try and Nick Evans's conversion earned Harlequins a dramatic and much-needed first victory of the season against Bath.

Bath had led thanks to Shontayne Hape's late try but Easter drove over from close range in the dying seconds.

The visitors led 6-3 at the break, with Nicky Little sending over two penalties and Quins responding through Evans.

Evans sent over a penalty to level and Hape's try then looked to have won it for Bath, before Easter's late heroics.

Bath took control from the start and fly-half Little landed two of three penalty opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.

A 40-yard penalty from Evans after 16 minutes gave the home fans something to cheer, and the New Zealander had the chance to bring Quins level on 33 minutes but hooked another penalty wide from 30 yards.

Matt Carraro went close to grabbing the first try of the day for Bath just before the break, only for Ugo Monye to snuff out the danger with a tremendous tackle that will have impressed watching England manager Martin Johnson.

606: DEBATE
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Monye then had an attempt ruled out in the 54th minute for a knock-on by Gonzalo Tiesi, before South Africa hooker Gary Botha received a standing ovation when he left the field after 65 minutes as he prepares to return home for family reasons.

Evans sent another penalty attempt wide but finally brought his side level at 6-6 with one minute remaining, only for Quins to let Hape stroll over for seemingly the winning score.

However, Harlequins had time to put the Bath line under severe pressure and, after a deliberation by the video referee, Easter's charge over the line was given as a try to tie the score at 11-11.

Evans made no mistake with the conversion from under the posts, sparking scenes of celebration among a Quins squad that had been under pressure following the summer's fake blood scandal and a subsequent poor start to the season.


Harlequins head coach John Kingston:
"The biggest emotion is admiration for the great fighting spirit this group has.

"I wonder what their emotions were seeing the number of chances we created but failed to take, then we allowed them a soft try.

"Yet the players were far calmer than we were on the line and they displayed a wonderful never-say-die spirit. I'm very proud of them."


Bath boss Steve Meehan:
"I feel a big sense of frustration after another game coming down to the wire without us finishing it off.

"We've got to make better decisions. There were moments in the game where our accuracy and execution were not good enough in the heat of the moment.

"I admit they could have scored more tries towards the end, but then we also had chances we didn't take. It was so close to a hard-earned win, but once again we just didn't see it out."


Harlequins: Brown; Strettle, Tiesi, Masson, Monye; N Evans, Care; Jones, Botha, Andress, Stevenson, J Evans, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.
Replacements: Clegg for Tiesi (70), Camacho for Monye (56), Fuga for Botha (64), Johnston for Andress (61), O'Conor for J. Evans (77), Guest for Robshaw (64).
Not Used: Croall, G. Williams.

Bath: Abendanon; Maddock, Carraro, Hape, Banahan; Little, Claassens; Flatman, Dixon, Bell, Short, Hooper, Beattie, Salvi, Skirving.
Replacements: Cuthbert for Banahan (65), Barnes for Flatman (54), Grewcock for Short (56), Faamatuainu for Beattie (65).
Not Used: Hawkins, Jarvis, Bemand, Davis.

Att: 11,203

Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).



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see also
Quins end Botha's contract early
28 Sep 09 |  Harlequins
Blues consider back-row recruit
30 Sep 09 |  Welsh
Newcastle 17-17 Harlequins
25 Sep 09 |  English
Hooker Azam receives 12-week ban
06 Oct 09 |  English
Bath 20-20 Leicester
26 Sep 09 |  English


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