Harlequins triumph over Saracens in historic derby victory
Alex Dombrandt was part of the winning Harlequins side
©Steve Haag
Saracens 12-23 Harlequins, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Harlequins produced a stunning performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, defeating bitter rivals Saracens 23-12 in front of a 55,000-strong crowd.
This long-awaited win marked their first away league victory over Saracens in 13 years and delivered a powerful message in this season’s Gallagher Premiership campaign.
The match exploded into life in the 5th minute when Theo McFarland intercepted a pass from Harlequins skipper Alex Dombrandt and raced in from halfway to touch down, giving Saracens an early 5-0 lead. Though the conversion was missed, the score set the tone for a fast-paced contest.
Harlequins answered back in the 15th minute, when Cadan Murley finished off a crisp backline move, dotting down in the corner. Marcus Smith converted to put Quins ahead 7-5, showing their attacking class despite the early setback.
Saracens reclaimed the lead in the 25th minute through Tobias Elliott, who powered through defenders for their second try of the evening.
Owen Farrell converted to make it 12-7, but from there, Saracens’ attacking rhythm began to falter as Quins applied pressure both in open play and at the breakdown.
The introduction of Jamie Benson at fly-half early in the second half proved decisive for Harlequins. His calm decision-making and tactical kicking helped shift the territorial balance.
In the 50th minute, Joe Marchant pounced on a loose Saracens pass and sprinted 40 metres to score under the posts. Benson converted to flip the scoreline in Harlequins' favour at 14-12.
With confidence growing, Harlequins pushed for more. After a period of sustained pressure inside the Saracens 22, Stephan Lewies muscled over in the 65th minute for Harlequins' third try.
Although Benson's conversion attempt struck the upright, the lead was now 19-12, and Saracens looked increasingly out of answers.
As the match wore on, Saracens struggled to break down a resilient Quins defense. A series of turnovers and penalties handed momentum back to the visitors. Benson extended the lead with a penalty in the 75th minute, pushing the score to 22-12.
He added another in the 79th, sealing the final score at 23-12 and sparking jubilant celebrations among the visiting support.
