Harlequins 34 Northampton 19: Jarvis hands first win to Richards

Dean Richards, the Harlequins head coach, has spent a lifetime at the coalface of rugby with a spectrum of facial expressions ranging from angry grimace to angry snarl. So what better way to describe the relief around west London yesterday as Quins recorded their first Guinness Premiership victory of the season - with a bonus point too - than to report that a hint of a smile actually crossed his face.

And why not? His side, guided superbly by the excellent Adrian Jarvis, comprehensively defeated a lacklustre Northampton team despite their scrum being utterly dominated by the Saints front five.

What they lacked in beef and brawn up front they certainly made up for with a tireless back-row in which Nick Easter was outstanding as line-out catcher, tackler and gainer of many hard yards, Paul Volley an irritating mole with his nose barely an inch from the turf either stealing or slowing down ball, and Andre Vos lurking with menace and daring runners to challenge him.

Still, none of this would have been enough to win the game and by such a handsome margin without some skilled play in the backs, and for that Jarvis, serviced well by Andy Gomarsall, must take enormous credit. Rarely flustered, his decision making was good and his sleight of hand in cahoots with the powerful Jordan Turner-Hall a threat to any defence.

It was from the boot that the first of Harlequins' four tries came though as Jarvis negated Saints' flat defence in the 23rd minute with a low kick to Simon Keogh on the right wing. The second, and the one that really suggested Quins could win, was worked neatly in midfield as Jarvis and Turner-Hall linked to create the gap and after a ruck near the line Gomarsall darted low to score.

Keogh added the third in the in the 58th minute as a series of phases created a gap wide on the right that Jarvis spotted and exploited before adding the crucial fourth, bonus-point-clinching try himself in the 65th minute.

It was exemplary, although Northampton were hardly stern challengers. Their away form is abysmal - they have yet to win on the road this season- and despite recovering some pride with two late scores by Sean Lamont and Mark Robinson, they finished the game in even worse mood as Luke Myring was left flat and seemingly unconscious in the middle of the pitch with two minutes remaining with a head injury, which resulted in the centre being taken to hospital.

Harlequins: M Brown; T Williams, G Duffy, J Turner-Hall, S Keogh; A Jarvis (C McMullen, 77), A Gomarsall (D Care, 73); C Jones, T Fuga (J Richards, 73), M Ross (L Ward, 73), O Kohn, N Spanghero, A Vos, P Volley (capt), N Easter (C Hala'Ufia, 66).

Northampton: I Vass; S Lamont, R Davies (V Going, 58), L Myring (J Howard, 77), C Wyles; C Spencer, M Robinson; T Smith, S Thompson (D Hartley, 74), C Budgen (P Barnard, 57), Damien Browne, C Short (D Gérard, 57), P Tupai, D Fox (capt), Daniel Browne (M Easter, 59).

Referee: T Spreadbury (Gloucestershire).