Quins win again in cup as Gloucester also triumph
Josiah Edwards-Giraud (left), Josh Hathaway and Ben Redshaw (2) all crossed the whitewash inside 26 minutes at The Rec
- Published
Gloucester and Harlequins both returned to Prem Rugby Cup action in victorious style as they both enjoyed away wins.
Quins ran in seven of the game's 12 tries as they made it three wins out of three in Pool B, beating Newcastle 45-33 at Kingston Park.
They now go clear at the top of Pool B after a third straight bonus-point win, five points clear of Saracens, who will also look to maintain their 100% record on Sunday at Leicester (13:00 GMT).
Gloucester did not have quite so far to travel, and were outscored six tries to five by their hosts, but they hung on to win their West Country derby against Bath 44-36 at the Recreation Ground.
The Cherry and Whites took their tally of tries to 18 in three matches as they moved to within three points of Pool A leaders Sale, who have played a game more.
Harlequins hooker Jimmy Staples was one of six different try scorers for the visitors in their win over Newcastle at Kingston Park
There were seven first-half tries, four of them inside the first16 minutes, three of them to the visitors, at The Rec as Bath suffered a second defeat in three games.
After right wing Ben Redshaw crossed inside the second minute, home hooker Jasper Spandler quickly replied with the first of his two first-half tries in the sixth minute.
But Josiah Edwards-Giraud, Redshaw again and Josh Hathaway all crossed before the break. And, with Ciaran Donoghue only landing one conversion, it was 31-17 to the visitors at the break.
An early second-half Bath revival triggered converted tries for Spandler and Tyler Offiah to briefly draw level, before Harry Taylor's converted try stretched Gloucester back in front, followed by Ross Byrne's penalty.
Max Pearce's late try caused visiting stress at 36-41 - but it went unconverted and Byrne's 79th-minute penalty closed the door again.
It was points galore at Kingston Park as Newcastle and Quins' combined haul of 78 just fell short of the 80-point aggregate at The Rec.
Quins led 28-14 at the interval with first-half efforts from stand-off Conor Slevin, right-wing Nick David, number eight Zach Carr and hooker Jimmy Staples.
They then added three more in the second period from left-wing Cameron Anderson, David again and wing replacement Sean Sharp.
Newcastle's five tries came from centre Ethan Grayson, who crossed twice, replacement prop Samson Adejimi, left-wing Alex Hearle and on-loan half-time replacement lock Rob Carmichael - as they too suffered a second defeat in three group games.
Who's next?
Friday 20 November
Pool A:
Bristol v Bath (19:45 GMT)
Saturday 21 November
Pool A:
Exeter v Gloucester (16:30 GMT)
Pool B:
Saracens v Harlequins (12:00 GMT)
Newcastle v Northampton (17:30 GMT)