Heineken Champions Cup: Alex Dombrandt's double helps Harlequins beat Cardiff 43-17
Match had been all square at 17-17 at half-time, but England No. 8 Alex Dombrandt's two tries helped Quins surge away for the win; Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant and Andre Esterhuizen all crossed as well; Cardiff's tries came from Cameron Winnett, James Botham and Theo Cabango
Last Updated: 18/12/21 5:06pm
Two second-half tries from Alex Dombrandt helped Harlequins overcome Cardiff 43-17 and make it two wins from two in Heineken Champions Cup Pool B.
There was nothing to separate the teams at half-time as they went in at 17-17, with tries from half-back pair Danny Care and Marcus Smith, plus two conversions and a penalty from the latter cancelling out tries from Cameron Winnett, James Botham and Theo Cabango.
But despite a bright start after the restart from the Welsh side still with numerous senior players quarantining, a double from England international Dombrandt, and single scores from Joe Marchant and Andre Esterhuizen broke their resolve, securing the win and try-scoring bonus-point for Quins.
In total, Cardiff were still without 42 players due to Covid-19 isolation and injury and were forced into giving Winnett a debut at full-back. He got his side, and his big day, off to the perfect start when he dived over in the right-hand corner after being picked out by Dan Fish in the fifth minute, with Tomos Williams converting from out wide.
It did not take long for Harlequins to hit back, however, as the ball quickly went through the hands of Smith and Jack Kenningham before Danny Care scampered through a gap to score.
Smith converted to level at 7-7 and the Blue and Blacks were also reduced to 14 men as Josh Adams was sin-binned for a dangerous tip-tackle on Tyrone Green in the build-up.
The depleted visitors were soon ahead again when James Botham plunged over, but this was quickly cancelled out by a brilliant score by Smith.
The England fly-half broke down the middle from 70 metres out and passed to Dombrandt before gathering the return ball to go clear. He converted for good measure.
Smith then slotted a penalty in front of the posts, but the match was level again when a turnover led to Seb Davies unleashing 19-year-old Cabango down the left wing for Cardiff's third try.
There was still nothing to separate the teams at half-time and it just about remained that way nine minutes after the restart when Adams was held up over the line by some desperate Quins defence.
The hosts struggled to get out of their own half for some time, but they eventually hit the front for a second time after 58 minutes when Dombrandt was able to power himself over from Care's pass.
Quins then sealed the try bonus point when a pinpoint chip to the left wing by Smith was gathered by winger Marchant, who sped over to score in the corner, with Smith's conversion opening up a 14-point gap.
Harlequins continued to pull away when Dombrandt grabbed his second, off a driving maul, before the scoring was rounded off by centre Esterhuizen crashing over near the posts with two minutes to go.
