Match Report: Gallagher Premiership: Harlequins 27-27 London Irish

Harlequins 27-27 London Irish, Twickenham Stoop
Scorecard

Oli Hoskins scored a try in the 79th minute while Paddy Jackson kicked the conversion as London Irish came from behind to secure a 27-27 draw against London Irish at Twickenham Stoop.

The result meant Harlequins now are positioned seventh with 14 points while London Irish are at ninth place with 12 points.

England coach Eddie Jones witnessed the game from the stadium and Harlequins thought they scored early in the game with Alex Dombrandt pressing forward but was stopped by a try-saving tackle. Nevertheless, Smith kicked a penalty goal in the 7th minute to get them off to a 3-0 lead.

The weakness in the defence of Harlequins was exposed by Curtis Rona as he raced for the game's opening try in the 12th minute that Paddy Jackson improved.

As the opening quarter was about to end, Smith brushed away a tackle from full-back Tom Parton for a converted try to take them to a three-point lead which became 10 when Mike Brown dived from close range in the 32nd minute followed by Smith's conversion.

The teams headed into the break with a 17-12 scoreline when Motu Matu'u dotted down at the back of a line out drive.

The start of the second half saw Jackson and Smith exchange penalties as the home side maintained their five-point lead. Harlequins maintained a period of sustained pressure and were rewarded when Scott Steele dived over the ruck for the side's third try taking the scoreline to 27-15.

The Exiles were handed a lifeline after Harlequins lost Archie White for a deliberate knock on in the 66th minute and London Irish immediately capitalised on the numerical advantage with number eight Albert Tuisue crossing the whitewash making it 27-20.

Harlequins were fortunate not to lose Smith in the final 10 minutes for disrupting the ruck but it was a matter of time before London Irish levelled the scores with Hoskins effort and Jackson's nerveless kick.

Team line-up:

Harlequins: Brown; Lynagh, Marchant, Lang, Murley; Smith, Steele; Marler, Baldwin, Louw, Symons, Young, Lawday, Evans, Dombrandt

Reserves: Elia, Els, Kerrod, Tzard, White, Landajo, Tapuai, Morris.

London Irish: Parton; Stokes, Rona, Brophy Clews, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, Meehan; Elrington, Matu'u, Hoskins, Mahu, Mafi, Rogerson, Cowan, Tuisue.

Reserves: Creevy, Goodrick-Clarke, Green, Simmons, Donnell O'Brien, Phipps, Meakes.