Another win for Quins

Nick Evans: Kicked 13 points

Harlequins continued their perfect start to the season as they produced an efficient display to beat Gloucester 28-9 in their Heineken Cup Pool Six clash at Kingsholm.

The Londoners made it 12 wins from 12 games this term as they ran in three tries to complete what was, in the end, a convincing victory.

Gloucester had plenty of possession and territory but failed to turn them into points and were left counting the cost as Harlequins, and the boot of Nick Evans in particular, clinically picked them off.

The New Zealander kicked 13 points, adding to tries from Mike Brown, Matt Hopper and Nick Easter, while three Freddie Burns penalties were all Gloucester had to show for their efforts.

The visitors' first score arrived after just six minutes and followed a slick line-out move and drive from Easter. As the ball was then spread from left to right through the back division's hands, Brown hit the line at pace and stepped inside to touch down by the posts.

Lesley Vainikolo - arguably the first half's outstanding performer - almost responded in kind for Gloucester moments later after a barnstorming run that saw him walk through a couple of tackles before finally being shoved into touch inches short of the line.

Burns did reduce the deficit with his first penalty on 10 minutes, but the seven-point advantage was soon restored when Evans kicked a penalty from bang in front after Quins had again caused problems down the right flank.

Burns struck from in front with his second kick on 26 minutes when Quins were caught offside in midfield, but the young fly-half missed another more difficult opportunity from the left touchline shortly afterwards.

Video referee

Former Cornish Pirates centre Hopper marked his first start for Harlequins by crashing over from close range just before the interval, the 26-year-old seeing his effort approved by the video official after referee Christophe Berdos had opted to go upstairs.

Evans narrowly failed to add the extras from out wide as his conversion struck the upright, but Quins still went in at the break nine points to the good at 15-6.

Vainikolo was forced off through injury at half-time and it was Harlequins who seized the early initiative after the restart when Evans kicked another penalty, while Burns missed an opportunity from longer range moments later.

Gloucester's best chance of reasserting themselves came on 47 minutes when Quins flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Akapusi Qera - this time Burns did kick the resulting penalty to move his side back within nine.

With a man advantage Gloucester put Harlequins under huge pressure but they could not convert it into the try they craved, Henry Trinder coming closest only to spill the ball as he went to touch down in the corner.

Back to their full complement, Harlequins made Gloucester pay for their profligacy as Evans rewarded their first venture into enemy territory for a while with another precision penalty kick on the hour.

They made the game safe eight minutes from time when, after a scrappy passage of play on the Gloucester 22, Easter showed a fine turn of pace to burst through the home defence and just about touch down under pressure from replacement Dave Lewis - the try again awarded after consultation with the video referee. Evans coolly slotted the extras.