Report: Saracens 22-12 Harlequins
Harlequins hopes of a play-off place were ended today as they lost 22-12 to league leaders Saracens at Wembley Stadium.
Harlequins opened the scoring at the home of English football, with Ben Botica kicking a penalty in the fifth minute after an infringement in the scrum by Saracens.
Saracens responded swiftly, however, with Chris Ashton going over in the corner on 13 minutes after some good build-up play by Sarries. Charlie Hodgson skewed his conversion, making the score 5-3 in his team’s favour.
Saracens lead lasted only four minutes, with Botica slotting his second kick of the day between the posts to pull Quins one point in front.
However, in the 29th minute, Saracens scored a controversial try with George Kruis stealing the ball in a ruck close to the try line and diving over to score. Some handbags ensued, however, tensions calmed after the TMO confirmed that Kruis was not in an offside position when he stole the ball from Danny Care. On his 250th appearance in the Premiership, Hodgson made no mistake with this conversion.
Botica reduced Saracens lead to only three after slotting home his third kick from three.
On the stroke of half-time, some brilliant play from Schalk Britts allowed him to weave through the Harlequins defense and offload to Ashton for his second and Saracens third. Hodgson extended his lead as the Premierships all time points scorer by converting.
An ultimately uneventful second half saw both sides add three points to their tally. Quins struck first, in the 47th minute Ben Botica scored his fourth penalty. Saracens restored their ten-point lead through replacement Owen Farrell, scoring a penalty on 72 minutes.
Ben Botica missed, with the final kick of the game, a penalty that would’ve secured Quins a bonus point.
The result sees Saracens secure a play-off place, and Quins stay in sixth, clinging to their Champions Cup place.