Harlequins take their chances to see off resurgent Worcester

Harlequins picked up five valuable Gallagher Premiership points with a hard-fought 29-21 victory over a resurgent Worcester at Sixways.

The Warriors competed fiercely but the visitors were the more potent attackers and despite some nervous moments were deserved winners.

Tyrone Green, Danny Care, Tom Lawday and Archie White scored tries for Quins with Will Edwards converting two. Tommy Allan added a penalty and a conversion.

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Noah Heward, Sione Vailanu and Seb Atkinson were Worcester’s try-scorers, with Finn Smith converting two and Billy Searle one..

Worcester conceded three early penalties to give their opponents an attacking platform but Quins could not capitalise as they knocked on 10 metres from the try-line.

Warriors made them pay by scoring the opening try in the 18th minute. On halfway, Alex Hearle exploded past a couple of weak tackles to race into the clear. The wing fed scrum-half, Gareth Simpson, who was hauled down but the ball was recycled for Heward to squeeze over.

The visitors soon replied with their opening try. They turned down a straightforward kick at goal in favour of a driving line-out and were rewarded when a well-judged kick from Edwards was skilfully controlled by Green, who picked up to score.

Quins then took the lead when Andre Esterhuizen’s power brushed aside would-be tacklers to send Hugh Tizard hurtling into the home 22 before Care saw a small gap to wriggle over.

However Warriors’ response was swift with Oli Morris haring down the left flank to set up a sustained period of pressure before a well-timed pass from Smith created an easy run-in for Vailanu.

Smith added the conversion to leave the scores level at 14-14 at the interval.

After the restart, a missed tackle from Worcester lock Graham Kitchener saw Cadan Murley secure the platform from which the visitors were able to dominate the opening exchanges of the second half.

A superb run from Huw Jones saw him evade numerous defenders but Lawday was unable to collect the centre’s poor pass, which surely have resulted in Quins’ third try.

It mattered little as moments later an excellent long pass from Edwards saw White sidestep a defender to score.

Quins then suffered a blow when Care was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Worcester looked to have immediately capitalised but TMO replays showed Vailanu had lost possession in the process of touching down.

Quins’ problems were exacerbated when lock Matt Symons limped off but the home side were not able to take advantage of Care’s absence, who returned with no damage done to the scoreboard.

Replacement outside-half Allan played at scrum-half when Care was in the sin-bin and it was he who extended his side’s lead with a penalty.

Care’s return was the catalyst for his side to dominate and they were rewarded with their bonus-point try from Lawday.

Worcester had the final say with a first Premiership try for Atkinson, although it was not enough to secure a bonus point.