Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Harlequins 22-19 Northampton Saints

Harlequins 22-19 Northampton Saints, Twickenham Stoop

In a closely fought Gallagher Premiership clash, Harlequins overcame Northampton Saints with a thrilling 22-19 bonus-point victory at The Stoop.

A late try from Cassius Cleaves, his second of the match, sealed the win for the home side, who displayed resilience and determination in front of a packed stadium.

The game began with a flurry of action as both teams looked to impose themselves early. Harlequins thought they had the opening score when Cleaves raced toward the corner, only for a high tackle from James Ramm to deny him a try. Surprisingly, no penalty or penalty try was awarded.

Northampton took the lead shortly after, with a spell of sustained pressure ending in Tom Pearson stretching over the line to make it 7-0.

Harlequins responded through Cleaves, who crossed the line for his maiden Premiership try following a patient build-up that began near halfway. However, with the conversion missed, the score remained 7-5.

Saints quickly regained their lead when Trevor Haffar powered over from close range, pushing the visitors ahead 14-5. Harlequins refused to back down, and a tactical substitution saw Tom Lawday replace an injured James Chisholm before scoring from five meters out. This closed the gap to 14-10 heading into halftime.

Northampton came out strong after the break, extending their advantage to 19-10 when Tommy Seabrook finished a move down the left wing. The Saints appeared to be in control, but Harlequins found their rhythm once again.

The home side executed a brilliant move from left to right, allowing Will Joseph to score unchallenged. His try brought Quins within two points at 19-17, setting up a tense finish.

As the clock wound down, the game was finely poised. Harlequins kept pressing, and their persistence paid off when Cleaves darted over for his second try of the evening. The score not only secured the win but also ensured a crucial bonus point for the hosts.

Team line up:

Harlequins: Green; David, Joseph, Waghorn, Cleaves; J Evans, Care; Jones, Walker, Kerrod, Launchbury, Lewies, Kenningham, W Evans, Chisholm.

Reserves: Riley, Els, Lewis, Herbst, Lawday, Porter, Benson, Halfpenny.

Northampton: Ramm; Litchfield, Savala, Hutchinson, Seabrook; Makepeace-Cubitt, McParland; Haffar, Walker, Davison, Mayavanua, Lockett, Kemeny, Pearson, Augustus.

Reserves: Wright, West, Green, Prowse, Hunter-Hill, Scott-Young, James, Glister.