Quins were clearly in the mood to run the ball from the start and did so through Duffy and Care until the latter was tackled into touch on the halfway line.  A free kick for an infringement at the lineout saw a fine break by So’oialo almost reach the line.  The ball was recycled from the ruck and with fine handling passed left from Mehrtens to Duffy and then Thompstone for the winger to cross for the first try.  Mehrtens added the conversion and after only two minutes Quins led 7 – 0.

Gloucester battled hard for some opportunity to level the score and a penalty allowed them to set up an attacking lineout.  The catch and drive which followed crossed the tryline but was held up.  They continued to press from the resulting scrum and the ball was moved quickly left with a final pass, suspiciously forward, putting their tall winger in for the try. The conversion was missed. After only ten minutes the score was 7 – 5.

In another quarter of an hour before the next score, the visitors made Harlequins work hard in defence and at the breakdown.  A catch and drive by Quins was penalised for crossing.  A strong Gloucester attack saw So’oialo apparently penalised for carrying the ball over his own tryline, Quins successfully defended the resulting scrum, Andrew Mehrtens’ superb kicking began to pin the visitors back into their own half.  As Quins attacked, a crossfield kick intended for Thompstone was intercepted by the opposing winger but he had no chance to break away before the cover caught him.

Then, from a lineout, the Gloucester centre broke through a gap left in the defensive line and, despite a despairing tackle from Danny Care, slid over for the try.

The successful conversion gave Gloucester the lead at 7 -12 but that was the visitors last score.

As Quins put pressure on their opponents with a series of pick and drives around the fringes, Gloucester conceded a penalty just outside their twenty-two which allowed Mehrtens to take an easy three points.  Fine kicking by the fly-half then put

Quins back on the attack and another fine break by So’oialo saw Quins threaten the line until one pick and drive too many resulted in a knock-on.   A charge-down by Quins resulted in possession turned over and the visitors penalised for diving over off their feet.  Mehrtens kicked three more easy points to restore the lead at 13 -12.

Then as the half drew to a close, a lineout deep in the Gloucester twenty-two saw Quins steal the ball and almost cross the line.  As the ruck camped on the line, So’oialo wriggled over for the try in typical fashion.  The last kick of the first half saw Mehrtens add the conversion and Quins led 20 -12.

For the second half Quins substituted both their props. Alex Rogers and Mark Lambert were a welcome sight after their long absence through injury.   From the start of the half Mehrtens’ superb tactical kicking kept Gloucester back in its own half.  The defence was excellent and after the one error which had permitted the visitors’ second try, they were not permitted to penetrate.  Then a lineout saw the ball come quickly to Mehrtens. His superb, flat, long and fast pass found Tom Williams as the full-back came into the line at full speed and cut the defence to ribbons to score the third try.  With the successful conversion, Quins led 27 -12 after 50 minutes.

Another kick and chase saw Williams just beaten to the touchdown.  Determined Gloucester attacks were met by determined and effective defence and then there was Mehrtens to push play back deep into the visitors’ half with his excellent tactical kicking.  Twenty-five minutes into the half, Care and Wiliams were substituted by Boggis and Maddox.

A poor pass to Mehrtens which he took near his feet saw the fly-half create a drop goal, while advantage was being played which would have allowed a penalty in a similar position. 30 – 12 was a comprehensive lead from which the visitors did not seem likely to recover but the fourth try and the bonus point were needed.   Then with only some ten minutes remaining, Thompstone received another of Mehrtens’ superb long, flat passes allowing him to break through the defence and find Will Maddox in support for the scoring pass and the bonus point.  Mehrtens missed the conversion from the left touchline.

There was time for a final Quins’ attack.  Determined pressure and equally determined resistance from the Gloucester pack saw Quins camped on the try-line.  The pick and drive round the fringes was stopped more than once until Alex Rogers in American football style dived over the ruck with ball in hand to score.  The final conversion saw Harlequins win by 42 – 12.

The star performance was that of Andrew Mehrtens.  His kicking game from hand and tee was well nigh impeccable and his personal tally was 17 points.  He had a substantial part in two tries with passes which allowed the opposition to be cut apart.  There was excellent work, too, from George Robson in the battle with the strong Gloucester pack and the return of both Rogers and Lambert was a welcome sight. 

Although Quins remain top of the table, Wasps also had a bonus point win over London Irish last night and the forthcoming fixture with them, whenever it happens, will be a crunch must win game. 

NEC Harlequins XV: 15. Tom Williams, 14. Danny Care, 13. Gavin Duffy, 12. Seb Jewell, 11. Adam Thompstone, 10. Andrew Mehrtens, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Aston Croall, 2. Jimmy Richards, 3. Ricky Nebbett, 4. George Robson, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Phil Burgess, 7. Tom Guest, 8. Hano Vermaak
Replacements: 16. Alex Rogers, 17. Dave Millard, 18. Mark Lambert, 19. Jim Evans, 20. Luke Sherriff, 21. Will Maddox, 22. Ollie Boggis

Scorers:
Tries: Thompstone, So'oialo, Williams, Maddox, Rogers
Conversions: Mehrtens (4)
Penalties: Mehrtens (2)
Drop Goal: Mehrtens

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