Saturday 15th September 2007

Harlequins 35
London Irish 27

Harlequins and Saracens got off to a winning start to the 2007/08 Guinness Premiership season today at the London Double Header at Twickenham.  Harlequins recorded their first win at Rugby HQ since 1991, beating London Irish whilst Saracens beat the European Champions Wasps.

In the opening fixture, Harlequins got the new Guinness Premiership season off to a flying start by holding on for a 35-27 win over rivals London Irish.

A sun-drenched crowd of 39,400 enjoyed a seven-try thriller with Harlequins’ superior finishing holding sway against the Exiles.

Ollie Kohn, Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom Williams and Hal Luscombe touched down for Quins with influential fly-half Chris Malone starring on his debut and adding three penalties and three conversions.

Irish replied with scores from David Paice, Steffon Armitage and Richard Thorpe with former Wasps and Quins fly-half Jeremy Staunton kicking the rest of their points.

“It was a hard-fought win we thoroughly deserved and we totally dominated the first-half,” said Harlequins chief Dean Richards.

London Wasps 19
Saracens 29

In the second match of the day, Saracens dominated for much of the game, racking up two tries in the first half from Powell and Vyvyan.

England and London Wasps youngster Daniel Cipriani retaliated with three penalties making it 9 16 at the break.

It was much the same story in the second half although Wasps did show signs of coming back into the game with a try from replacement Joe Ward.

But Saracens continued to dominate and defended well to retain their lead, despite the late attack by Wasps.  The match finished 19 29 to Saracens.

Ends.