image source, Getty Images
- author, Chris Peddie
- role, bbc sports
Attempt: Northmore 2, Lewis, Marley, Porter 2 Cons: Smith 3, J Evans pen: J. Evans
Attempt: Slightholm, Lamb, Lichfield, Rose Cons: F. Smith 3 pen: F. Smith 2
Harlequins faced Premiership leaders Northampton Saints at Twickenham and scored six tries to win.
Luke Northmore and Will Porter scored twice while the home team lost Danny Care, Lewis Reiner and Tyrone Green to the sin bin.
Kea avoided a second-half red card as Quins secured victory and strengthened their hopes of making the play-offs with two games remaining.
They are level on points with fourth-placed Bristol, with a trip to Exeter and a potentially decisive home game against the Bears to conclude the regular season.
Harlequins took the lead within two minutes of Marcus Smith's pinpoint cross-field kick, and Northmore, who was in space on the right, scored in his first start for six months.
Quins had Care in the sin bin in the seventh minute after a head collision between scrum-half and former England team-mate Courtney Rhodes, but Saints were unable to capitalize when bringing on extra players.
Northampton came on midway through the first half, with league leading scorer Ollie Slightholme catching Tom Litchfield's kick and threatening to pass forward in the build-up.
Finn Smith converted and then converted a penalty moments later to put Saints back in double figures.
Northmore scored his second try just behind the post and Marcus Smith converted to give Quins the lead back.
Raina was then shown a yellow card for collapsing a pass in front of his own half, and with Quins down to 14 men again, Finn Smith elected to take a penalty kick to give them a one-point lead.
However, the Londoners continued to attack despite their inferiority and moved the ball all the way to the try line, eventually allowing captain Stephen Lewis to break through a wall of Northampton defenders and score a try.
Saints scored just before half-time when Sam Graham's goal was canceled out by a controversial knock-on, giving Saints a six-point lead at half-time.
A quick pass between Care and Smith saw Caydan Marley score his third try of the season, giving Quins a bonus point early in the second half before James Lamb quickly hit back for Saints with his sixth try.
Harlequins were reduced to 14 for the third time as Green was sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on.
And although Kea appeared to dive to the top of the ruck to win the ball, the scrum-half looked relieved as he avoided a second yellow card and was immediately replaced by Porter.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, Litchfield scored to give the Saints the lead again.
However, Porter's two tries reduced the time for Harlequins, and substitute Jarrod Evans sealed the win with a penalty after Lowes scored Saints' fourth try to give them a bonus point for losing to the leaders.
After the European Champions Cup semi-final match against Leinster, which will be held in Dublin next Saturday, there are league games remaining against Gloucester (home) and Bath (away), leaving them four points behind second-placed Saracens. There is.
Harlequin: Green; Raina, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Marley. Mr. Smith, please be careful. Baxter, Walker, Collier. Herbst, Lewis.Cunningham South, W. Evans, Dom Brandt
Replacement: Riley, Mahler, Kerrod, Hammond, Trenholm, Porter, J. Evans, Beard.
Sin Bin: Care (6), Raina (28), T Green (54)
Northampton: Furbank. Lamb, Freeman, Lichfield, Slightholm. F. Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Matabesi, Davison. Mayanavanua, Rocket.Rose, Ludlum, Graham
Replacement: R. Smith, Huffer, Miller Mills, Munga, Scott Young, Augustus, James, Dingwall.
