Aviva Premiership: Harlequins 29-23 Saracens

Rob Buchanan celebrates scoring a try with his Quins team-mates

A Rhys Gill red card swung the game in Quins' favour as they ran out 29-23 winners over the previously unbeaten Saracens.

Saracens led 23-18 with 15 minutes remaining before Gill was sent off for his part in a dangerous tackle on Geroge Lowe, which allowed Quins to fight their way back through the boot of Ben Botica and a last-gasp James Horwill try.

Horwill was himself shown a yellow card two minutes into the game for a swinging-arm challenge on George Kruis, who had to be stretchered off.

Saracens arrived in south west London in pursuit of a 16th successive victory of the season, and while they remain top of the table, their lead has been cut to three points following a Chiefs win over Gloucester at Sandy Park.

Once play had resumed after Kruis was taken from the pitch, Saracens took advantage of Horwill's absence by kicking downfield and using their pack to milk seven penalties from the hosts.

Scrum-half Neil de Kock eventually opened the scoring for the defending champions, but Quins hit back soon thereafter, after a lineout move saw Charlie Matthews catch the ball and flick it to Care who found Buchanan on the touchline for the score.

Neil de Kock opened the scoring with a first-half try

The conversion was missed and Billy Vunipola then increased Saracens's lead with a try after muscling through tackles from Care, Nick Evans and Luke Wallace.

Harlequins clung on, and cut Saracens' advantage with an Evans penalty before taking the lead shortly before half-time. Marland Yarde made a break from the wing and gained ground before Evans gave Jack Clifford the scoring pass. Evans converted and Quins led 15-14 at the break.

There was more controversy early in the second half as Owen Farrell lifted England team-mate Mike Brown off the ground and incurred the wrath of the home faithful for what they felt was not a well-controlled descent. However the referee examined the incident on the big screen and deemed it legitimate.

Successive penalties from Farrell then nudged Saracens back into the lead, and the kickers traded further shots at goal before Gill was sent off, setting up a pulsating end to the game.

Botica added two penalties, the second of which earned Quins the lead, before Horwill capped off a Harlequins victory with a try as the game drew to a close.