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The Premiership returns with a potential thriller as two of the league’s most entertaining sides clash at the Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins welcome the high-flying Bristol Bears to their southwest London home with the visitors eyeing top spot in a hugely competitive campaign. Pat Lam’s side have continued to embrace their free-wheeling identity and enjoyed an encouraging start to the season, with a win over champions Northampton before the November international action leaving them well placed.
The hosts, meanwhile, sit six points behind their opponents and within striking distance of the top four. While there is no Marcus Smith tonight as he rests after a busy Autumn Nations Series with England, Alex Dombrandt returns to captain the side. More significantly, the club will say farewell to a legend in Joe Marler, who has brought forward his retirement from rugby from the end of the season to tonight and starts on the loosehead for the final time.
Follow all of the latest from the Stoop in our live blog below:
Harlequins 17-14 Bristol, 30 minutes
Bristol have to reset now, that double-strike puncturing an otherwise excellent start. Harlequins haven’t actually had to play any rugby to gain those 12 points, either, which will frustrate Pat Lam.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:19
TRY! HARLEQUINS 17-14 Bristol (Luke Northmore, 27 minutes)
Broken ball and Harlequins pounce again!
Serious wheels from Luke Northmore! The centre isn’t necessarily a noted sprinter but this is sheer speed, picking up the pieces after his teammates had made a mess of Bristol’s breakdown and easing up through the gears. Jarrod Evans can’t convert.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:15
Harlequins 12-14 Bristol, 24 minutes
There is barely a moment to draw breath in this game so far. Harlequins now play quickly from the touchline, though their attempts to make inroads on the opposite side are scuppered by an inaccurate pass that floats over the head of the last man on the line.
Meanwhile, up at Kingston Park, Newcastle lead Saracens thanks to a try from Alex Hearle after this rather tidy early finish from Tobias Elliott.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:13
TRY! HARLEQUINS 12-14 Bristol (Cadan Murley, 22 minutes)
Picked off, pulled in and Cadan Murley is off to the races!
A 14-point swing! Bristol build pressure and the gaps are starting to appear as Kieran Marmion flings to the right. But Murley is sharp as a tack, off the line in rapid fashion to pluck the duck and make off with the spoils. A 90-metre intercept score and doesn’t the Stoop love it!
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:10
Harlequins 5-14 Bristol, 20 minutes
This opening 20 has flown by but Bristol are really starting to seize control. Their long, lean athletes are causing havoc, Viliame Mata, Santiago Grondona and co managing to free the arms and get offloads away.
Will Evans is pinged at a breakdown just outside Harlequins’ 22. You doubt Bristol will take the points...and they don’t, opting for the corner.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:08
TRY! Harlequins 5-14 BRISTOL (Gabriel Ibitoye, 17 minutes)
Under the posts untouched! A brilliant break from Kieran Marmion and Gabriel Ibitoye finishes it off!
It’s poor fringe defence from Harlequins, caught napping down the short side as Marmion snipes. Ibitoye cannily fades to the inside as Marmion puts him away and there’s no stopping the wing from there as he continues his red hot form against his old club.
Joe Marler gives his former teammate a bit of chat afterwards. Hmm...
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:05
Harlequins 5-7 Bristol, 16 minutes
Oghre appears to have hurt himself in that passage, the hooker slow to get back to join his teammates in restart receipt formation. Replacement Harry Thacker is practicing a few throws on the touchline, suggesting Pat Lam is mulling a change, but Oghre will soldier on for now.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:03
TRY! Harlequins 5-7 BRISTOL (Kalaveti Ravouvou, 14 minutes)
A length-of-the-field pearler from the visitors!
Gabriel Oghre is sprung up the right and shows such intelligence to wait for support having been isolated, ducking and weaving to allow his teammates to arrive. That affords Bristol the chance to spread the ball away to the left, where there are numbers. Kalaveti Ravouvou is the last man on the line and shakes off a would-be tackler before accelerating to the line. AJ MacGinty adds the extras to nudge away noses in front.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 20:01
Harlequins 5-0 Bristol, 13 minutes
Harlequins make initial inroads on the attack but run out of numbers, forcing Tyrone Green to thread a kick through. It’s a good’un, tumbling out about seven metres from the Bristol line.
But Bristol want to play! Thrown quickly and off they go!
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 19:59
Harlequins 5-0 Bristol, 11 minutes
Another bright attacking passage from the visitors sees them work their way down into the Harlequins 22, the ever effective MacGinty pulling the strings nicely. An untimely knock on again scuppers their progress, though.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 November 2024 19:58