Marcus Smith orchestrated Harlequins’ first-ever Investec Champions Cup knockout victory, as they defeated Glasgow Warriors 28-24 in a sensational opening game to the Round of 16.
The game may have started with Glasgow Warriors on top, second-row Scott Cummings going over for a converted score from the Scottish club’s very first attack, but the poise and artistry of Smith soon told.
He picked out centre Andre Esterhuizen with a perfect cross-field kick for the Twickenham Stoop club’s first score, before stepping and dazzling his way to the line himself for their second shortly after the Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu was sent to the bin, a victim of his side giving away a litany of penalties.
Smith was involved again as the hosts scored a third just before the break, his deft hands moving the ball out wide to wing Cadan Murley. The fly-half converted, just as he did for the earlier two.
But Glasgow Warriors were not for turning, and in quick succession, they delivered a one-two punch which silenced the crowd at the Stoop.
First hooker Johnny Matthews and then scrum-half George Horne went over in a three-minute salvo which turned the game on its head. Both were converted to level to score, and Horne then kicked a penalty to give the Scottish club the lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when replacement prop Joe Marler was shown yellow, but as the clock ticked down and with the hosts soon restored to XV, Harlequins began to turn the screw again.
Eventually, replacement Sam Riley forced his way over the line to the jubilation of the Stoop crowd, Smith converting.
The Scottish club fought to the bitter end, but they just couldn’t find a way past the Harlequins defence, and the Gallagher Premiership club held on for a famous victory.
Harlequins will now face one of Union Bordeaux-Begles or Saracens in an Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.
Scorers:
Harlequins: Tries: Andre Esterhuizen, Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Sam Riley. Conversions: Marcus Smith (4).
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: Scott Cummings, Johnny Matthews, George Horne. Conversions: George Horne (3). Penalty: George Horne.
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Will Evans, 6 Stephan Lewies (c), 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter. Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Cameron Anderson.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Nathan McBeth. Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.
