The trusty boot of Paul Burke kicked Harlequins into next season's Heineken Cup after a thrill-a-minute 42-33 European Shield final win over Narbonne at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon.

Quins thought they had the match won but were forced into extra-time by the spirited French outfit who matched them three-all on the try count.

But Burke landed six penalties, three conversions and then punted the final drop goal to give Quins the win, which in turn condemned big-spending London rivals Saracens to the second tier of European competition next term.

Keith Wood and Paul Burke were back for Harlequins this afternoon as they attempted to end the French domination of the European Shield.

The Irish duo both missed the semi-final victory over Newcastle but four weeks recovery time allowed them to shake off their injuries and take their places in a full-strength Quins side against Narbonne at the Madejski Stadium.

France have provided all eight previous finalists in the competition, which for the first time offers automatic entry into the Heineken Cup for the winners.

And, on his final appearance before retirement, former Scottish international Stuart Reid was aiming to skipper Narbonne to victory.

His team made the better start, enjoying a territorial dominance which was rewarded after six minutes when Argentine fly-half Gonzalo Quesada landed a 20 metre penalty.

However, after failing to break over the halfway line in the opening stages, Quins responded in thrilling fashion when Will Greenwood found Ben Gollings and the winger outpaced Sebastien Rouch to score in the corner.

Craig Chalmers proved to be Quins match-winner against Newcastle but his goalkicking can no longer be trusted and Burke's value to the side was shown when he landed the difficult conversion.

Burke landed another penalty shortly afterwards to bring worried looks to the faces of any representatives of big-spending Saracens, who were relying on a Narbonne win to ease them into next season's Heineken Cup via the back door.

Quesada and Burke exchanged penalties as the Londoners maintained their seven-point advantage.

Quesada reduced the gap with an excellent 40-metre drop-goal, although Daren O'Leary blew a chance to extend Quins' lead when he was bundled into touch after Greenwood had found him in space.

Narbonne were giving everything in an exciting tussle which matched yesterday's Heineken Cup final in eye-catching combat, if lacking slightly in intensity.

Quesada's normally reliable right boot - which made him top points scorer in the 1999 World Cup - failed him from 30 metres on the half hour.

However, the Argentine quickly recovered his poise to convert a superb Ignacio Corletto try after Reid had initially galloped down the right wing before Patrick Furet exchanged passes with Quesada.

It brought a noisy and sizeable French contingent to their feet and they nearly had more to celebrate when Gregory Sudre broke down the blindside of a scrum, but he could only find O'Leary with his speculative inside pass.

Still, Quesada was back on form and had something to spare as he hammered over his third penalty from five metres inside his own half.

Another Burke penalty brought his side to within three points but the favourites' hopes of victory were in the balance as the interval whistle blew.

With the Narbonne back-row taking a grip on the fringes of set-piece play, it was the French side who launched the first attack of the second period.

Impish scrum-half Sudre again caused problems and scampered to within five metres, only for Colin Gaston pile over the top at the ruck and gift Quins a relieving penalty. Gaston had cause to rue his error when the home side swooped to the other end and crossed for their second try.

Again, Greenwood was heavily involved, punching a hole in the Narbonne defence before appearing on the left wing to swop passes with Burke, before Pat Sanderson seized possession and reached over.

Burke maintained his 100% record by adding the conversion but Quins spurned another penalty chance as they temporarily took command, only for Roy Winters to concede a penalty barely 10 yards from their opponents' line.

Matthew Powell was hauled back as he crossed for what could have been a decisive score when referee Nigel Whitehouse correctly ruled that Nick Greenstock's final pass had gone forward. Olivier Merle burst 50 metres downfield after breaking through David Wilson's weak tackle.

But, after Narbonne had kept their discipline for almost the entire contest, a moment of madness from Sudre saw their chances nosedive. Whitehouse had already signalled a penalty award for the French team just yards from the Quins line as O'Leary attempted to kill the ball. But that wasn't enough for Sudre, who stamped on the winger, saw the penalty decision reversed and the yellow card brandished in his face.

Quesada failed with a speculative drop-goal attempt but as Narbonne launched another counter, Powell was fortunate to ground the ball in his own in-goal area as he ambled to a deep Quesada punt with Corletto bearing down.

Burke landed his fourth penalty when Whitehouse again reversed a decision after prop Federico Pucciarello trod on Wilson, and Quins once again held a seven point lead as Sudre returned.

However, Narbonne remained dangerous opponents and after Mario Ledesma and spurned one golden chance by failing to feed Rouch on his outside, the hooker took a huge gamble when he sidestepped Wood in a similar position, although this time the tactic worked and he grabbed the crucial try.

With barely three minutes remaining, Quesada kept his nerve to level the scores from the touchline and the match headed into 30 minutes extra-time.

Alewyn Joubert did well to scoop up the loose ball under his own posts after Greenwood had charged down Quesada's attempted clearance kick.

But Quins were not to be denied for long and it was Greenwood who again became the provider, popping a pass which sent O'Leary racing between the uprights to allow Burke the easiest of conversions.

Wilson had to be carried off with what looked like serious cruciate ligament damage after his knee gave way as he tried to turn, by which time Quins had been awarded another penalty, which Burke again booted home.

It was the first time either side had been more than a converted try in front.

Greenwood was having an exceptional game in defence and dragged down Sudre as the scrum-half tried to jink his way over, one of a series of mighty tackles from the England centre.

But even Greenwood could not stop Reid as he picked up from the base of a scrum and skidded over from five metres, although there was some doubt about the grounding.

Quesada landed the conversion to bring his team back to within three points as the match entered the decisive final 15 minutes.

Sensing the next score would be the winning one, both sides ran themselves to standstill in the search for points.

An offside decision against Narbonne proved irresistible for Burke, who swept over his ninth kick from as many attempts.

It was almost enough, but just for good measure he then kept his nerve to land a smartly-taken 30-metre drop goal and kill off Narbonne's brave resistance.