Challenge Cup: Harlequins 34-26 Cardiff Blues
Last Updated: 17/01/16 6:34pm
Harlequins sealed a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup after recording a 34-26 victory over Cardiff Blues on Sunday.
Quins were forced to withstand a battling second-half comeback from the Welsh side, but held out to maintain their unbeaten European campaign.
With former Blues star Jamie Roberts starting, Quins looked to be cruising to a fifth straight Pool Three win as tries from Rob Buchanan, Jack Clifford, Marland Yarde and Ross Chisholm gave them a 28-0 half-time lead.
But a spate of substitutions early in the second half appeared to disrupt the home side as Cardiff fought their way back.
Cory Allen, Dan Fish and Lloyd Williams all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Rhys Patchell adding the extras to two of those scores, and by the time Fish scored his second try after 71 minutes, the visitors trailed 31-26.
But replacement Ben Botica's penalty on the whistle ensured Quins maintained their 100 per cent record in the pool stage and they secured a tie at Twickenham Stoop in the last eight.
The Blues, who collected a losing bonus point, need to beat Calvisano at Cardiff Arms Park next Friday and hope Quins defeat Montpellier to have a chance of reaching the knock-out stages.
