RUGBY: Harlequins 32 Wasps 22:NICK EVANS produced a match-winning performance at The Stoop last night as Harlequins beat London rivals Wasps to reach the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup. The New Zealand outhalf kicked five penalties, two conversions and a sweet drop-goal.
Harlequins had roared into a 14-0 lead with tries from Danny Care and Maurie Fa’asavalu. Wasps responded with tries from Seb Jewell, Tom Lindsay and Richard Haughton but Evans’ boot guided Harlequins to victory and they now face Munster or Brive.
Harlequins powered into a 14-0 lead inside six minutes. Care, after 90 seconds, stole away from a ruck on the Wasps 22 and under the posts; Evans converted.
When Simon Shaw spilled the ball on half-way, Care launched a counter-attack before Jordan Turner-Hall crashed onto a pass from George Lowe and into the Wasps 22. Will Skinner took the ball on and Fa’asavalu careered through to score Harlequins’ second try, allowing Evans another routine conversion.
Wasps could not keep possession. Easter collected a kick from Evans and off-loaded to Ugo Monye but Wasps snatched the turnover and Richard Haughton streaked clear. The wing had no support and hacked ahead – but it gave Wasps the chance to reorganise and, with Serge Betsen in ferocious form, they steadied the ship. Riki Flutey and Jewell were asking questions in midfield and it was the 23-year-old latecomer who crashed over the line for the first Wasps try.
Jewell’s try, confirmed by the TV official and converted by Dave Walder, gave Wasps a toe-hold in the game. It could have been better still. David Lemi beat three defenders and then collected a pass from Walder but was tackled into touch short of the line by opposite number Gonzalo Camacho.
Walder slotted a drop-goal to draw Wasps within four points but Harlequins resumed control by the interval, with Evans landing three penalties for a 23-10 lead.
Evans slotted another after the restart before Wasps won a penalty 40 metres out and opted to go for touch. It proved a worthy gamble when Lindsay barrelled over for the try. Evans landed a fifth-consecutive penalty to edge Harlequins two scores clear again but Wasps refused to go quietly.
Lindsay was held up over the line as he drove in search of his second try. With seven minutes left, Wasps created the opening after a break from Flutey who combined with Jewell and Mark van Gisbergen before Wasps moved the ball wide and Haughton scored in the corner. Walder missed the conversion and Harlequins sealed the win with an Evan drop-goal.
HARLEQUINS: Brown, Camacho, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Monye, Evans, Care, Jones, Gray, Andress, Kohn, Robson, Fa'asavalu, Skinner, Easter. Replacements: Brooker for Gray (48), Lambert for Andress (52), Vallejos for Kohn (56), Browne for Robson (78).
WASPS: van Gisbergen, Haughton, Jewell, Flutey, Lemi, Walder, Simpson, Payne, Webber, Broster, Shaw, Launchbury, Betsen Tchoua, Ward-Smith, Powell. Replacements: Wade for Lemi (21), Lindsay for Webber (32), Taulafo for Broster (60), Jones for Betsen Tchoua (67).
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France).
Last night: Stade Francais (12) 32 Montpellier (19) 28
