Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Bristol 21-23 Harlequins

Bristol 21-23 Harlequins, Ashton Gate

Jarrod Evans scored the decisive penalty goal in the closing stage as Harlequins edged out Bristol Bears 23-21 at Ashton Gate in the third round of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.

This is second win for Harlequins in three matches as they climb to the fourth place in the table with nine points while Bristol are at third place with 10 points.

Harlequins dominated the opening quarter as Evans kicked back to back penalty goals in the 7th and 15th minutes before second row George Hammond dived from close range for the opening try. Evans also kicked the conversion to perfection to make it 0-13.

The home side clawed their way back into the game as Will Evans was sin-binned for not rolling away in the 28th minute with Callum Sheedy kicking penalties on either side to reduce the gap down to seven points.

With the numerical advantage on their side, Bristol narrowed down the gap further as a well-timed pass from Bernhard Janse van Rensberg allowed Virimi Vakatawa to touchdown. Sheedy missed out on the conversion allowing Harlequins to complete the opening half with a two-point lead.

Four minutes into the second half, Hammond completed his second try but his effort was cancelled out when Harry Thacker collected his own kick to dive over the line and Sheedy improved to make it 18-20.

The start of the final quarter saw Harlequins infringe at scrum and Sheedy landed a three-pointer to make it a one-point game before the home side went ahead once again as Jake Heenan was yellow carded for a high tackle on Quins' skipper Alex Dombrandt in the 77th minute and Evans kicked a three-pointer to steer the visitors to a thrilling win.

Team line up:

Bristol: Lane; Heward, Vakatawa, Janse Van Rensburg, Ibitoye, Sheedy; Randall; Woolmore, Thacker Lahiff; Dun; Batley; Harding, D. Thomas, Bradbury.

Reserves: Capon, Grahamslaw, Kloska, Caulfield, Heenan, Marmion, Williams, O'Connor.

Harlequins: David; T. Green, Beard, Anyanwu, Lynagh, J. Evans, Porter; Baxter, Riley, Collier; Launchbury, Hammond; Kenningham, W. Evans, Dombrandt.

Reserves: Jibulu, Els, Kerrod, Lamb, Chisholm, M. Green,Edwards, Bradley.