Another try: Danny Care
Related links
Teams
Also see
A late try from Tom Casson helped Harlequins claim a 31-28 victory over London Irish in an entertaining Aviva Premiership spectacle on Sunday.
Ian Humphreys and Ben Botica kicked three penalties each for Irish and Quins respectively to go alongside tries from Guy Armitage and Danny Care as the score was tied at 16-16 at the break.
Tom Williams touched down for the away side in the second period, but four penalties from the hosts' fly-half put them ahead before centre Casson's dramatic late and controversial score.
It was the visitors who set their intentions early when Botica kicked two penalties, but the New Zealander was at fault for the hosts' opening score when his kick was charged down and that allowed Armitage to pounce. Humphreys converted as Irish led 7-6 after 13 minutes.
Their advantage didn't last long as Anthony Watson's attempted offload fell into arms of Care and the scrum-half scampered over.
Successive penalties from the home side's stand-off levelled the scores before Botica kicked one of his own to regain Harlequins' lead.
But a further penalty from Humphreys meant the teams went into half-time level, although Quins were down to 14 men after Mike Brown's yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
The respective fly-halves traded kicks from the tee early in the second period before a wonderful move from the visiting backline ended in Williams crossing in the corner.
The hosts' Irish fly-half cut that deficit with two more penalties before another seven minutes from time looked to have won the game. However, Casson latched on to Ugo Monye's offload to go over and send them top of the Aviva Premiership standings.
The scorers:
For London Irish:
Tries: Armitage
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys 7
For Harlequins:
Tries: Care, Williams, Casson
Con: Botica 2
Pen: Botica 4
London Irish: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Guy Armitage, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Tomás O'Leary, 8 Chris Hala'ufia 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher (c), 5 Matt Garvey, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Kieran Low, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Alex Gray, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Darren Allinson.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Tom Guest, 5 George Robson, 4 Olly Kohn, 3 James Johnston, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Seb Stegmann.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Roy Maybank
Television match official: Graham Hughes
Timekeeper: Roy Marfleet
Assessor: Ed Morrison
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
@irishinlondon maybe at half past 8 the bulk of people were questioning the knock-on but when I looked a whole raft of comments ahead of mine had not appeared.
I thought that the TMO (and indeed the commentary team) had dismissed the knock on early in his deliberations as, from every angle I saw, it appeared to go through his hands and on to his knee - there was definitely contact with the hand but it also definitely went backwards.
The main deliberation with the commentary team was whether the grounding was acceptable (which it was). My ignorance of the law remark was aimed at the player who clearly didn't know much about what happened after he failed to collect the ball and so assumed he had knocked it on.
Oh and if I was refereeing, I wouldn't have given it because in real time there was not enough evidence to suggest it had been scored - shot in the arm for TMOs in my opinion.
Posted 08:49 30th October 2012
damo says...
Quins didnt deserve the win but both teams will go on to win next week humph is a classy operator. Oleary went off ay half time and Allison cost Irish 6 points with poor passing leading to 2 pens, LIrish need to find a better sub 9 in my opinion as rge pack are improved and 10 to 15 can mix it with anyone. Guy armatige looks a good 12 Shingler a gr8 13
Posted 08:06 30th October 2012
irishinlondon says...
@jameslivesinhope - not quite sure why you are quoting the grounding law the only thing people are questioning is weather it touched his hand thus a knock on. Anyway disapointment gone, was just really good to see Irish competitive again and Quins prop deserved the win anyway!
Posted 20:31 29th October 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
IRB Rules
22.1 GROUNDING THE BALL
There are two ways a player can ground the ball:
(a) Player touches the ground with the ball. A player grounds the ball by holding the ball and touching the ground with it, in in-goal. ¿Holding¿ means holding in the hand or hands, or in the arm or arms. No downward pressure is required.
(b) Player presses down on the ball. A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player¿s body from waist to neck inclusive.
It was a try, it would appear that ignorance of the law isn't just not a defence, its not an offence either..
Posted 14:50 29th October 2012
makemehappy says...
Never seen a yellow card for someone trying to scoop the ball back - a really dull refereeing decision! What was with his high tackle penalty too against Hala'ufia - the rule wasn't meant for that - what a plonker!
Posted 13:13 29th October 2012
damo says...
@kybone says...
His knock on was flat if not slightly forwards before he shinned it forwards and fell forwards onto the ball, the knock on would be called by a ref/touch judge 99 times out of 100 FACT, and it was most likely flat but the fact is the player knew himself he butchered the chance, and fair play to him for not trying to claim the try he deserves gr8 credit. The decision was wrong but the game was very good viewing, both teams played well with London Irish 100% better than early season scrumming well and back line moving well - Wilson will be class act
Posted 12:11 29th October 2012
NHsaints says...
London Irish have kicked it up a gear since that win over saints, looks like they're really back and looking to get up in that top 4/6 mix.
Posted 10:51 29th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Irish are back! Delon and Stefan come home.
Posted 08:52 29th October 2012
Propmelsey says...
That was never a try at the end!! Lets do away with this silly TMO malarky and go back to real rugby!! Technology is killing sport. :((
Posted 07:44 29th October 2012
kybone says...
damo and irishinlondon- It was given as a try because the ball was knocked backwards of the hand, it only went forwards after it had bounced up and hit the players knee-thats not a knock-on
Posted 04:23 29th October 2012
Sincero says...
Great match... unlucky, Irish!!!
Posted 20:10 28th October 2012
irishinlondon says...
I have no idea how the TMO gave that try in the end, even the Quins fans in the pub thought it was a knock on and I think Conor O'Shea's wry smile after seeing the reply with the ESPN panel said it all! Otherwise a great game!
Posted 17:17 28th October 2012
damo says...
Video ref was wrong for the last second winner unlucky Irish!!!!!!!!!!
Deserved the win gr8 game well done ESPN
Posted 16:40 28th October 2012
melkdave says...
Annother great game from the AP ,and my god wasnt Quins lucky at the end ,but the TMO got it right,didnt touch the ball with his hands,it hit the ground went back and forward off his knee ,where he then landed on it with his chest ,a try ,but luckyyyyyyyyyyy or what .Just shows how competative the AP is these days imo thre most competative league in world rugby atm .by a country mile .Good performances by Buchanan,Hooper ,Easter,Care,Botica from quins and G.Armitage Gibson ,Humphries from L.Irish
Posted 16:11 28th October 2012
olepete says...
Great match to watch. Harlequins at 3 tries to 1 deserved to win but why do the commentators hate them? - it's as though they were the All Blacks.
Posted 16:09 28th October 2012