HARLEQUINS underlined their status as the club that loves to strut its stuff in the cup with a sparkling four try victory over Saracens in Saturday's all London quarter final at the Stoop. Will Carling inflicted terminal punishment with a brace of second half tries that put an end to Saracens' lingering fight back hopes.
Saracens suffered a series of injury setbacks, losing three highly influential Southern Hemisphere stars, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lynagh and Tony Daly, in a bruising second half. The former Springbok captain is likely to be sidelined with a torn hamstring for four weeks.
Mark Evans, Saracens' director of rugby, was also unhappy about the Liverpool referee Steve Lander's award of a penalty try for persistent scrum infringements. "I failed to see why it was a penalty try," Evans complained. "If the scrum was not going forward at the time how could he award a try?"
Probably the answer was that the Saracens front row were illegally twisting the scrum. They certainly had come under intense pressure in six successive scrums in the left corner, committing a number of infringements which tested Mr Lander's patience beyond a reasonable limit.
Both goal kickers, Thierry Lacroix and Lynagh, found it difficult to judge the line and length of their penalties in a swirling wind, though the Frenchman and the Australian did finish with two penalty goals apiece.
On the stroke of half time, Saracens stunned Harlequins with a splendidly improved try on the left, Lynagh sending a high kick down the flank which Philippe Sella grounded after both Jim Staples and Daren O'Leary failed to clear. However, just two minutes into the second hall, a storming mid field break by Harlequins' open side Rory Jenkins created sufficient space for Carling to take a short pass and crash over to the right of the posts, putting the hosts 18-8 ahead.
Worse was to follow for Saracens who lost Pienaar with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by the powerful Yandell who nevertheless lacked the extra pace needed to pressure Harlequins in the loose. Midway through the second half, Lynagh withdrew with calf damage, quickly followed by Daly who also suffered a pulled hamstring.
In the meantime, a brilliantly constructed try by O'Leary stretched Harlequins' lead to 23-11. With 15 minutes left, Tony Dip rose, the Saracens captain, found sufficient space on the left flank to drive through for a fine solo try which stimulated hopes of a comeback but Harlequins promptly tightened up their forward effort and kept possession with more accurate passing as time ran out.
In the closing minutes, a loose pass by Sella went aground, Jason Keyter picked up the ball and raced 50 metres before unloading under pressure to Carling who crashed over for a second try.
There was still time for Lynagh's replacement, Andy Lee, to kick a penalty goal from the edge of the box but Harlequins were deservedly home and dry.
