Harlequins finally managed to get their Premiership campaign off the ground with a well-earned victory over London Irish.

Quins had suffered a dismal start to the season with consecutive defeats against Gloucester, Leicester and Leeds.

But they made amends in front of a full house at The Stoop, outscoring their former tenants by three tries to one.

Irish fly-halves Paul Burke and Barry Everitt exchanged penalties early on before Quins seized the initiative with the opening try.

The home pack drove deep into Irish territory from a line-out, and when the ball was recycled, winger Matt Moore was on hand to touch down.

Two further penalties apiece for Burke and Everitt left the game poised at 14-9 early in the second half.

The next try would be vital and it went to Quins when half-backs Scott Bemand and Burke set up Ben Gollings from a five-yard scrum.

Substitute David Slemen slotted a 59th-minute drop goal before Everitt kept the Exiles in touch with a fourth penalty.

However, the stand-off then slipped up with a wayward kick that was picked off by Nick Greenstock, who ran 60 metres for a spectacular try.

Slemen converted for 29-12 and, although Pieter Rossouw scored a late try for Irish, Quins had enough in hand to claim a long-awaited win.

Harlequins: Williams; Moore, Greenstock, Satala, Gollings; Burke, Bemand; Leonard, Fuga, Gomez, Davison, Codling, Tiatia, Sanderson, Diprose.
Replacements: Rudzki, Starr, Evans, Sheriff, Duncombe, Jewell, Slemen.

London Irish: Horak; Barrett, Burrows, Appleford, Rossouw, Everitt, Edwards, Worsley, Kirke, Hardwick, Burke, Casey, Danaher, Dawson, Strudwick.
Replacements: Martens, Mapletoft, Gustard, Cockle, Drotske, Hatley, Durant.

Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)