Harlequins 20-5 Bath: Victory ends four-game losing streak
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 05/03/18 10:48am
England prop Kyle Sinckler was among the try scorers as Harlequins claimed their first Aviva Premiership victory of 2018 with a hard-fought 20-5 success over Bath.
The result ends a four-game losing streak in the league for Quins who were much-improved defensively in a contest short of real quality.
While they can hope to use this result to kick-start a better run of form, the loss is a damaging one for Bath's play-off ambitions.
They remain five points adrift of the top four following a wasteful display.
Fly-half Demetri Catrakilis made just his second start of the season for Harlequins after his recovery from a throat injury while Bath were able to welcome back Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau.
The match got off to a scrappy opening with Bath unable to capitalise fully on an obvious territorial advantage before Zach Mercer broke from a scrum and linked with Kahn Fotuali'i, who went clear of some weak tackling, before giving Matt Banahan a walk-in for his ninth try of the season.
James Wilson, who kicked seven out of seven in last week's victory over Sale Sharks, missed the conversion and the stand in fly-half was then at fault, as the hosts hit back.
His pass meant for Tom Homer was intercepted by Tim Visser, just outside his own 22, and there was no catching the winger who left Catrakilis with an easy conversion.
Catrakilis then extended Quins' lead to 10-5 with a penalty, although he was unsuccessful with another attempt, as Bath were twice penalised for offside.
Indiscipline continued to hurt the visitors in the second-half as Max Lahiff was sent to the sin-bin just a minute after coming off the bench with his side conceding a string of penalties.
Harlequins eventually made the most of their pressure as Dave Lewis quickly recycled the ball for Sinckler - not long on the pitch - to crash over from close range. Catrakilis converted.
Bath desperately sought a route back into the game, with a dangerous move involving Wilson, Nathan Catt and Cooper Vuna only stopped by a terrific tackle just metres out by Luke Wallace.
Mercer and Nathan Charles were also denied by some heroic Quins' defending in the closing stages, before Marcus Smith's penalty ensured a much-needed victory.
