Category: Harlequins

Harlequins reached the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time by beating Bordeaux-Begles by a point in a thriller.

In the heat of 29 degrees in the South West of France, the lead changed twice in the last quarter of the match and it was a missed conversion from Maxime Lucu ultimately proved the difference between the sides.

Quins dominated the early play with two tries from Will Porter scoring twice in the first half with a penalty try and Tyrone Green also touching down seeing them have an unexpected 16-point lead at the break.

Bordeaux came out firing in the second half with Nicolas Depoortere scoring a remarkable try, then Louis Bielle-Biarrey and two from substitute Madosh Tambwe, while Alex Dombrandt and Sam Riley scored for Quins.

Crucially, after replacement winger Tambwe’s last try, despite him sneaking the ball 10 yards inside before touching down, Lucu kicked wide of the sticks.

Marcus Smith in contrast was perfect with his six conversion attempts and Quins will now look forward to an historic last-four tie.

It is a very rare for an English side to come to the South West of France, where they revere their front rowers, to dominate the scrum – but that is exactly what the Quins men up front did.

Just as rare is the sight of brutish French forwards being shielded by umbrellas from the club’s support staff – but that is what happened in both halves when water breaks were taken.

It certainly is going to be part of the story when the forwards, deservedly,revel in telling the story of their heroism today in the years to come.

You could throw a blanket over a number of Quins players. The front row shocked their French opposition manhandling them in the scrum. Will Evans and Alex Dombrandt were key figures in attack and defence, but Will Porter, filling the big shoes of Danny Care was remarkable capped with his two-try burst in the first half and a great tackle to hold up Yann Lesgourgues over the line when backs were against the wall.

Bordeaux: Buros, 8, Uberti 6, Depoortere 7, Moefana 7, Bielle-Biarrey 7. Garcia 4. Lucu 7: Kaulashvilli 5, Lamothe 5, Tameifuna 5, Cazeaux 6, Coeman 6, Miquel 6, Tatafu 6, Samu 6.

Substitutes: Boniface 7, Sadie 6, Petti 6, Vergnes Taillefer 6, Lesgourgues 6, Tambwe 8.

Harlequins: Green 7, Lynagh 6, Beard 7, Esterhuizen 7, Murley 6, Smith 8, Porter 9*; Baxter 8, Walker 8, Collier 6, Launchbury 7, Lewies 7, Evans 8, Cunningham-South 7, Dombrandt 8.

Substitutes: Riley 8, Green 7, Evans 7, Northmore 7.

5′ TRY! BORDEAUX 0-5 HARLEQUINS (PORTER) The home fans are stunned. A driving run from Cunningham-South and then Esterhuizen races down the wing before playing inside to his scrum half who runs in and touches down.

9′ TRY! BORDEAUX 0-14 HARLEQUINS (PENALTY TRY) Smith runs wide and goes to feed Green against the touchline, but Garcia knocked on the ball.

20′TRY! BORDEAUX (LUCU) 5-14 HARLEQUINS The hosts drive from a line out and Tameifuna is grounded, but then Lucu scoops the ball up and dives over the line. They are checking with the TMO though.

25′TRY! BORDEAUX (BORUS) 10-14 HARLEQUINS It is adjudged with the second movement he did touch down for a try. That could be a big moment in the game.

30′TRY! BORDEAUX 12-19 HARLEQUINS (PORTER) A remarkable try from Porter. Dombrandt with a driving run then found Porter inside who chipped over the last defender then ran in to touch down. The TMO checked if Dombrandt’s pass was forward but the try stands.

40+2′BORDEAUX 12-26 HARLEQUINS (EVANS) The replay shows the Quins number seven clearly touches over the line at the second attempt.

45′ TRY! BORDEAUX (DEPOORTERE) 17-28 HARLEQUINS Depoortere with an outstanding pick up from a low offload at full speed and then he races to dive in just inside the corner.

58′TRY! BORDEAUX 22-33 HARLEQUINS (DOMBRANDT) A perfect drive from the line out and Dombrandt times his dive over the line perfectly.

60′ TRY! BORDEAUX (BIELLE-BIARREY) 27-35 HARLEQUINS Borus races over the halfway line and then passes wide to Bielle-Biarrey who runs in for a try with little resistance.

65′TRY! BORDEAUX (TAMBWE) 34-35 HARLEQUINS Bielle-Biarrey with a chip and chase and the ball will not come down for Lynagh before the French winger challenges for the ball and then Borus races through again before recording another score assist passing inside to the substitute who touches down under the posts.

70′TRY! BORDEAUX 36-40 HARLEQUINS (RILEY) The Quins maul take shot after shot from the home defence but they keep moving forwards before Riley touches down. The TMO is checking whether the ball was dropped…

72′GREEN TOUCHES DOWN.. But the penultimate pass from Lynagh looked forward.

73′TRY! BORDEAUX 36-40 HARLEQUINS (GREEN) The referee is happy with the pass – and so are the Quins! There was great attacking play from Dombrandt and Northmore in the build up.

• 0 – The number of Champions Cup semi-finals Harlequins had reached before today.