Quins charge away from Bulls

Howell scores two tries on return to side

Last updated: 4th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Quins charge away from Bulls

Howell: Made an impact on return

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Harlequins claimed a hard-fought away win at Bradford to move back into the engage Super League play-off places.

A returning David Howell scored two tries in the final 15 minutes to overturn a four-point deficit at Grattan Stadium.

Matt Gafa and Ryan Esders also got on the scoresheet as Brian McDermott's side ended a demoralising run of six successive defeats, leaving the Bulls well out of the play-off race.

Bradford held the lead twice after an early Semi Tadulala try and later efforts from Paul Sykes and Chris Nero. But they were unable to hold off Quins in the final stages.

Harlequins squandered the first real chance of the game when Howell, back from suspension after his illegal tackle on Wigan's Sam Tomkins, found space on the right but passed straight into touch.

Dominant

The hosts then went on to dominate the early exchanges, and their pressure paid off when Tadulala pounced on a Sykes kick for the opening try after eight minutes.

Quins were unable to capitalise when in possession of the ball, Danny Orr failing to gather a pass by Will Sharp with a clear chance in front of him.

The away side went close again numerous times before finally taking charge of the game with two touchdowns around the half-hour mark.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was tackled just short of the line, but Orr quickly sent the ball wide for Howell to set up Gafa, who applied the finish.

On-loan Esders then followed over the try-line moments after a Luke Gale pass put him in the clear.

Orr converted to give the visitors a 10-4 lead at the break, although Nero almost reached a Dave Halley kick to reply immediately for the Bulls.

Within a minute of the re-start, Halley looked on course to score himself after breaking from halfway, but Chris Melling raced back to provide the saving tackle.

Lead

Former Harlequins player Michael Worrincy was then held up over the line as the Bulls continued to surge forward, but the ball bounced loose and Luke Dorn gathered for the visitors.

The pressure eventually told as Terry Newton created a gap for Sykes to burst through and score, with Paul Deacon's subsequent conversion levelling the scores.

The Bulls then completed the mini-comeback just after the hour as Sykes broke from inside his own half before Deacon took up the attack, and Nero finished the move off in the corner.

The hard-earned advantage did not last long, however, as Quins produced their best move of the second half, and Dorn's inside pass sent Howell over for the try.

Orr then nailed an excellent conversion from wide on the left to give the Londoners a two-point lead.

The Bulls almost hit back as Halley was held over the line but the visitors put the game to bed after Sharp collected a Deacon kick and quickly turned defence into attack.

Melling caught the Bulls flat-footed as he sprinted 80 metres from in front of his own posts and then found Howell in support to touch down.

Orr failed to convert but completed the scoring with a penalty in the final minute.