Harlequins outplayed the DHL Stormes 53-16 in a Round 2 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup match at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday evening.
Keen to put last week’s RC Toulon home loss behind them, the DHL Stormers came out on top, with two quick-fire penalties to get into an early lead.
This was just as quickly responded to thanks to a Caden Murley try after the South Africans failed to pick up a loose ball.
The hosts then added to their tally after Danny Care finally forced it into touch following a series of rucks.
‘Quins were not done there as Alex Dombrandt added the side’s third touchdown in the opening half which, thanks to a smart conversion from Marcus Smith, saw the hosts into the break 19-06 up.
Marcus Smith added a penalty early in the second half to which the Stormers replied with a dropgoal by Jurrie Matthee.
The Harlequins' pack of forwards were starting to dominate and a try off the back of a line-out maul by captain Alex Dombrandt extended Harlequins' lead to 29-09 with Smith adding the extra two points.
Harlequins added tries by Alex Dombrandt, Cadan Murley (2) and Sam Riley during the final twenty minutes of play before JC Mars scored the Stormers' only try of the match with a minute to play to cut the host lead to 53-16 which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Harlequins: Tries: Cadan Murley (3), Danny Care, Alex Dombrandt (3), Sam Riley. Conversions: Marcus Smith (2), Jarrod Evans (2). Penalties: Marcus Smith.
DHL Stormers: Try: JC Mars. Conversion: Jurie Matthee. Penalties: Jurie Matthee (2). Drop goal: Jurie Matthee.
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Luke Northmore, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 James Chisholm, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter. Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Harry Browne, 20 Jack Kenningham, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Jarrod Evans
DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 JC Mars.