Quins out as Exiles stay alive

London Irish kept their EDF Energy Cup ambitions alive by beating Harlequins 32-17 at the Twickenham Stoop.

The Exiles overturned a 17-5 deficit by scoring 27 unanswered points, including three tries in seven second-half minutes, to snatch a dramatic Group C victory.

Only a month ago, London Irish fought back from 20-3 down to beat Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership at the Stoop, and Quins director of rugby Dean Richards will be cursing his prediction after Saturday's defeat.

In his match programme notes, Richards promised there would be no repeat of September's loss, but he was to eat his words come full-time.

Quins were in charge after a bright opening earned them a 12-0 lead with tries from lock George Robson and winger Charlie Ainsbury.

London Irish responded just before the interval through replacement loose forward Richard Thorpe.

Quins re-established their 12-point lead after the re-start with a lineout drive from Neil McMillan - but the Exiles then sparked into gear with quick-fire tries from Peter Hewat, Adam Thompstone and James Bailey.

Hewat then rounded off the victory in the closing minutes after picking off an interception to seal the try-bonus point.

Changes

Despite both teams' cup ambitions riding on victory, Richards and Toby Booth decided to ring in the changes for the weekend fixture.

England's Shane Geraghty made his second start of the season for the Exiles after recovering from injury and there were flashes of his performance that will have pleased the on-looking England backs coach Brian Smith.

But it was Quins' academy winger Seb Stegmann who was heavily involved in the opening exchanges as Harlequins hit London Irish with a high tempo and attacking ambition.

The 19-year-old was halted just short of the line by a brilliant last-ditch challenge from scrum-half Tom Parker after chasing down Tom Williams' well-weighted chip forward.

London Irish could not clear their lines and Robson drove over for the opening try after six minutes from the back of the lineout.

Stegmann was the catalyst once again as Quins produced some brilliant fluid rugby to create a three-man overlap down the left for Ainsbury to score.

Geraghty showed flashes of invention in the first half but the London Irish attacking machine was miss-firing.

It took until three minutes before the interval for London Irish to get onto the scoreboard.

Thorpe replaced Jon Fisher and virtually his first action was to attack from the base of a London Irish five-metre scrum and he drove over from the try.

Quins threatened to seal the game at the start of the second period.

Parker needed to pull off another try-saving tackle after hooker Chris Brooker burst out of a driving maul - but the respite was brief as Quins executed a classic catch and drive for captain McMillan to score.

Turning point

It was almost as if that score sparked London Irish into action - and replacement scrum-half Alfredo Lalanne, who only arrived in the country this week, was at the heart of it as the Exiles scored three tries in seven minutes.

Lalanne brought pace and momentum to the Exiles game and Hewat took full advantage, picking a magnificent line to glide through the Quins defence for a brilliant solo try.

Thompstone then took the opportunity to haunt Harlequins, who released him last season, by stepping off the right wing to beat two defenders and draw the scores level at 17-17.

London Irish had their tails up and winger Bailey raced over for his first try since signing from Gloucester last month.

Harlequins sent on the big guns in the form of England scum-half Danny Care and fly-half Chris Malone to try and curb the comeback.

But Quins then suffered another setback when replacement hooker Ignacio Elosu was sin-binned after the touch judge spotted his boot had connected with Thorpe's head at a ruck.

Quins came close after a midfield break from Care, but the home side could not engineer a comeback and Hewat's interception try secured the bonus point and rounded off another fine Exiles fightback.