Greenstock try takes Quins off bottom (From This Is Local London)

Greenstock try takes Quins off bottom

5:02pm Thursday 26th September 2002 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Harlequins 29 London Irish 19

NICK GREENSTOCK, called into the side five hours before the kick-off, ran 80 yards to score the late try which gave Harlequins their first win of the season and lift them off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership (writes DALE HARRY).

The England centre, now concentrating on his job as a management consultant, replaced Will Greenwood, whose prematurely born baby son Frederick died on Thursday night.

Greenstock said: "I was devastated when I heard the news, which has come so soon after the death of Keith Wood's brother. It made us determined to win for him."

Ace Tiatia had a colossal game on the flank, breaking through the London Irish defence on numerous occasions and providing vital cover when defending.

Tiatia produced the pass that put Matt Moore away for Quins' opening try and was involved in the build-up when Ben Gollings added a second to open up a 10-point lead.

Quins chief executive Mark Evans said: "Bits of our defence weren't particularly good, but London Irish didn't exploit that. We played better in the second half and Ace Tiatia was superb defensively. It was certainly the best game from our back row all season."

London Irish closed the gap, but the accurate kicking of Burke, who struck three penalties, gave Quins the edge.

Harlequins scorers: tries - Moore, Gollings, Greenstock; con - D. Slemen; pens Burke 3; drop goal - D. Slemen.

London Irish scorers: try Rossouw; con Everitt; pens Everitt 4.

Harlequins: Williams; Moore, Greenstock, Satala, Gollings; Burke (Slemen, 54), Bernard; Leonard (capt), Fuga, Gomez (Starr, 72), Davison (Evans, 72), Codling, Tiatia, Sanderson, Diprose.

Quins had suffered a dismal start to the new season with consecutive defeats against Gloucester, Leicester and Leeds but hope to gain their first away league win in 15 games, since march last year, when they travel to Sale today.

They will be without points scoring machine Paul Burke for the match and indeed for the foreseeable future. The Irish fly half picked up a hamstring injury in the victory over Irish and is likely to be out of action for up to six weeks. David Slemen is set to replace him.

Quins may also make a change at scrum half, as both Nick Duncombe and Matt Powell have recovered from foot and back injuries respectively. They will both be challenging Scott Bemand for the number nine jersey.

Meanwhile, Quins Ladies' Leah Carey has been selected for the England Under 19 squad.

The 17-year-old Hounslow teenager will join the squad for four training sessions this year in preparation for next spring's game, which is likely to be against Wales.