| Time |
Score |
|
| |
|
Wembley is expected to be confirmed as the host to a world-record crowd for a club rugby fixture today, showing just how high the stakes are in Saracens' clash against Harlequins. With the Six Nations championship now in the rear view mirror, fans can look forward to a titanic battle in London this afternoon, with the victor taking a crucial step in their pursuit of play-off prominence.
|
| 1 |
|
The conditions are ideal for a day of top-quality rugby, and Nick Evans gets us underway for what promises to be a highlight fixture in this Aviva Premiership season.
|
| 5 |
|
Both teams exchanging bouts of frantic possession in these opening minutes, with a slew of knock-ons, penalties and other mistakes prominent. Nick Kennedy's escaped punishment for what the replays have shown was a clean uppercut on Steve Borthwick, while David Strettle may be an early casualty after taking a low, swinging Maurie Fa'asavalu arm to the head.
|
| 9 |
5 - 0 |
Chris Ashton gets the opportunity to stretch his legs, and he's more than happy to pounce on the opportunity as Harlequins waste possession at the other end. The ball spills into the air as Quins attempt to pass it through their backs, Ashton leaps up out of the line to claim it as his own before searing 90 metres down the pitch and diving under the posts.
|
| 10 |
7 - 0 |
Farrell - conversion
|
| 12 |
|
|
| 16 |
|
Saracens beginning to press for a second now, and it's only the slightest of tips on the Harlequins five-metre line that prevents Jackson Wray from going in under the posts. Owen Farrell's had a very physical start to the game and it's his side who are certainly in a better state of control.
|
| 20 |
7 - 3 |
Nick Evans gets Harlequins' first points of the afternoon from the tee.
|
| 22 |
10 - 3 |
Farrell cancels out the three points not so long ago added by Evans, taking Saracens into double figures and stretching their lead to seven points once again.
|
| 26 |
15 - 3 |
George Kruis has scored far too easily as far as Conor O'Shea will be concerned, gliding in under the posts after fending his way past a sole Harlequins defender 10 metres out from the line. Saracens threatening to pull away now.
|
| 27 |
17 - 3 |
Farrell - conversion
|
| 30 |
17 - 10 |
And just like that, Harlequins are back in the fixture, Karl Dickson filling in for Danny Care, who can usually be seen making these kinds of darting runs. Quins come in off the line, easing the phases closer to the middle of the pitch just 10 metres out from the Saracens line before Dickson takes matters into his own hands, weaving his way through the slightest of gaps before sliding in.
|
| 33 |
20 - 10 |
Farrell keeps up his sensational recent stretch of form from the tee, again pitching Saracens just outside their opponents' grasp.
|
| 38 |
|
|
| 39 |
25 - 10 |
Another intercept try for Saracens, and Harlequins have let those points leave their mitts at the worst possible time, Owen Farrell thrusting the leaders into high spirits just before the interval. This time it's Evans who gives his opposite number possession in a criminal part of the pitch, and Saracens need only last another 40 minutes before this one's in the bag.
|
| 40 |
27 - 10 |
Farrell - conversion
|
| |
|
Wembley welcomes the two teams back out and Farrell gets the action started again.
|
| 40 |
|
Jacques Burger is under early investigation for what might have been deemed a late tackle, but he gets away with a warning this time and play is resumed.
|
| 42 |
27 - 15 |
Sam Smith has given Harlequins their lifeline and Dickson was once again involved, feeding his right winger with just a couple of yards left between him and touch line, Smith bundling in from short range.
Borthwick is sent to the stands for 10 minutes for his part played in attempting to stop the score.
|
| 43 |
27 - 17 |
Evans - conversion
|
| 49 |
|
Harlequins have looked more calculated in this second period, but the team are undoubtedly benefiting from the absence of the sin binned Borthwick. Only a few minutes left for the side to make the most of their one-man advantage.
|
| 57 |
32 - 17 |
Having come close to a sin binning earlier in the game, Jacques Burger is a hero figure now, finishing off a move down Saracens' left flank that was engineered entirely by the surprisingly quick feet of Schalk Brits. Farrell can't add the conversion.
|
| 73 |
|
After such a frantic middle period to the game, we're experiencing something of a lull in the scoring stakes right now, but the action isn't subsiding everywhere in between. Both teams going back and forth in possession.
|
| 75 |
|
|
| 76 |
|
And Farrell is deservedly picked as Man of the Match for his display this afternoon. After such an impressive Six Nations campaign, the youngster is already back impressing at the club level.
|
| 79 |
37 - 17 |
It's been a fantastic occasion for both clubs, but it's Saracens who have been dominant and Marcelo Bosch rounds off the day's work by cutting a line through the Harlequins' line 15 metres out, bounding in under the posts to seal a maximum points win.
|
| 80 |
39 - 17 |
The full-time whistle is blown and Saracens can be very pleased with the manner in which they've risen to this fixture, with Farrell in particular running the performance. There were a few creaks for the victors, but Harlequins will be disappointed to have gifted their opponents quite so many scoring opportunities, which you simply can't do when it's a team this talented on the other side of the pitch.
|
