Stade Francais sends Harlequins out of Challenge Cup with 27-17 win

Stade Francais 27-17 Harlequins, Stade Jean Bouin
Scorecard

Harlequins' hopes of progressing to the European Challenge Cup quarter-final was dashed after they were defeated 27-17 by Stade Francais in their final group stage encounter at Stade Jean Bouin on Sunday.

The game was delayed by around 95 minutes due to frozen pitch and Harlequins needed a win to make it to the next round.

Waisea Nayacalevu and wing Julien Arias gave a head start to the home team through their tries in the 15th and 23rd minute respectively while fly-half Jules Plisson added a double conversion and a penalty to take a 17-point lead.

Number eight Matthew Luamanu gave some respite for Harlequins with his try in the final minute of the first half but Tim Swiel missed on a conversion as the visitors were trailing by 12 points at half time.

The lead for the Top 14 side swelled to 22 points when replacement Craig Burden crossed over in the 51st minute and Plisson added the extras and also another penalty.

Even though, England international Marland Yarde and replacement James Chisholm tried to stage a comeback for the Quins when they went past the line in the 57th and 77th minute respectively, the visitors succumbed to a 10-point defeat which ended their campaign in the European Challenge Cup tournament.

Stade Francais, who have qualified from the group along with Edinburgh will take on Ospreys in an away quarter-final.