Harlequins vs Bristol LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after visitors run riot to spoil Joe Marler’s farewell
After a busy autumn of international action, the Premiership returns with what should be an enteertaining clash
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Your support makes all the difference.Bristol Bears moved to the top of the Premiership as the visitors produced a statement performance against Harlequins to spoil Joe Marler’s farewell.
The high-flying Bears ran riot at the Twickenham stoop, showcasing all the flicks and tricks that make Pat Lam’s side the league’s great entertainers. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Gabriel Ibitoye and Viliame Mata - making a long-awaited debut after an injury-hit time since a summer switch from Edinburgh - were all to the fore in a 48-24 win.
It took the shine off a night where the hosts said adieu to one of their finest servants. Having announced his international retirement during November, prop Marler had brought forward his club curtain call. He departed just before the 50-minute mark to a standing ovation - one of precious few on a difficult night for the London club in the absence of Marcus Smith.
Re-live all of the action from the Stoop in our live blog below:
Harlequins 24-45 Bristol, 66 minutes
A couple of penalties allow Harlequins to foray down towards the Bristol 22, but an inefficient lineout drill costs them 20 metres.
The attacking play is spritely and Tyrone Green scurries for a gap, though it is soon cut off as Bristol scramble well. Green ambitiously tosses off his chest straight into touch.
TRY! HARLEQUINS 24-45 Bristol (Tyrone Green, 64 minutes)
He has! An offload was knocked back by the hands of Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou and Tyrone Green was sharpest to react. He toes the ball beyond Kieran Marmion like a football winger aware he’s got the beating of his marker for pace, rounding the retreating scrum half in pursuit of the ball and holding off the Bristol tackler to ground emphatically. Over goes the conversion - now then?....
Try?
Has Tyrone Green managed to get that down? A friendly bounce and hack ahead might just have allowed the full-back to score...
Harlequins 17-45 Bristol, 61 minutes
A vital turnover in the shadow of their own posts spares Harlequins from another score.
Changes for both teams. Jack Walker is replaced by Nathan Jibulu at hooker for the hosts; Max Lahiff and Viliame Mata take leave for Bristol as Lovejoy Chawatama and Benjamin Grondona come on.
Harlequins 17-45 Bristol, 59 minutes
A Harlequins fan reminds the side of the remarkable Premiership semi-final comeback in 2021, though I think this is a situation that even the boys of “Bris-tanbul” would admit is beyond them. Besides, Bristol look capable of adding plenty more to their current tally.
Newcastle, by the way, still lead Saracens 17-5 up at Kingston Park.
TRY! Harlequins 17-45 BRISTOL (Santiago Grondona, 56 minutes)
Seven more! More gorgeous handling from the Bears up the left and Santiago Grondona has the toe to zoom into the corner. Well well well. This is becoming a proper pasting.
Harlequins 17-38 Bristol, 55 minutes
Things are threatening to unravel for Harlequins here. Simon Kerrod’s return restores them to full complement but that yellow card period cost them 17 points.
TRY! Harlequins 17-38 BRISTOL (Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 53 minutes)
Another Bristol pearler - created and scored by Benhard Janse van Rensburg!
Ooh, this is tasty. A delectable pass off the left hand from the Bristol centre is perfectly weighted for Jack Bates to scamper on to, the wing collecting the pot of gold at the end of a most beautiful rainbow. Bates returns to his colleague, who gambols away in delight. A serious score to leave Harlequins in a serious hole.
Harlequins 17-31 Bristol, 52 minutes
With that out of the way, Harlequins turns their attentions to sparking a turnaround, though they are on the defensive, struggling to escape their own territory and unable to contest for a shallow kick. The danger sirens sound...
Harlequins 17-31 Bristol, 50 minutes
The Twickenham Stoop rises to its feet - the moment has arrived. Over to the touchline Joe Marler trudges for the final time. Barring injury or incident (or another retirement reversal), that’s that for the career of one of England’s great props and Harlequins’ finest servants.
Fin Baxter gives his mentor a big bear hug.
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