Quins' run at an end

Luke McAlister: Kicked 11 points for Toulouse

Harlequins' 14-game winning run was ended in clinical fashion on Friday night when Toulouse beat them 21-10 in their Heineken Cup match at the Twickenham Stoop.

The result takes the French giants top of Pool Six and, coming as it does against Aviva Premiership leaders in such good form, serves a statement of intent by the four-times champions. It wasn't so much the scoreline that impressed, however, more the manner in which it was achieved.

Aside from a period early in the second half when Mike Brown crossed for Quins, their opponents were in control.

Wing Timoci Matanavou scored a try in each half, former All Black Luke McAlister booted the rest of the points, while their forwards turned defence into attack time and again with strong tackling at the breakdown.

On the back foot

McAlister opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty, with Nick Evans levelling the scores with a long-range effort five minutes later. The three points sparked Quins into life, although a promising move came to nothing after Danny Care opted for a tap penalty rather than take the three points.

They were soon on the back foot, though, and went behind in the 17th minute when confusion among the backs resulted in a break led by Louis Picamoles. The number eight then reappeared as part of an overlap on the left flank, with Matanavou touching down. McAlister missed the extras but converted a second penalty in the 20th minute for an 11-3 lead.

Seb Stegmann had to mop up after Maxime Medard kicked to the right-hand corner moments later, although Toulouse's pressure ended when they were penalised for holding on.

McAlister fell only just short with a penalty attempt from halfway and he then set in motion a quickfire break from a turnover that also involved Yannick Jauzion, Matanavou and Florian Fritz.

Care diffused the situation and soon gained turnover ball again - this time just inside Toulouse's half. But Quins simply could not make headway against a wall of white shirts. They were given a chance when Medard failed to deal with a long-range penalty from Evans down the right flank five minutes before the break, but were eventually penalised for holding on.

With Ugo Monye on as a replacement, the home side started the second half looking for - needing - an early score and Matt Hopper soon brought the crowd to its feet with a lightning break from his own half.

The centre sold a dummy before sprinting clear and although he didn't go all the way, territory had been gained. A quick tap from Care this time worked and Brown crossed.

Pressure

Evans converted to bring his side back to within one point, but McAlister extended the gap with another penalty in the 57th minute.

Then, chasing down his own kick, Matanavou hauled down Brown as he backtracked under his posts. Starting with a five-metre scrum, the pressure on Quins eventually eased - although attempts to turn defence into attack ended with a knock-on halfway.

Back came Toulouse - and in ruthless fashion - as Vincent Clerc sprinted clear inside Hopper before Matanavou finished the move off in the left-hand corner, despite the possibility of a forward pass and Brown's claim he had taken the wing into touch.

McAlister converted for 21-10 and although Harlequins tried to press in the final minutes, it was in vain.