Quins crush struggling Leeds

Leeds' relegation fears deepened on Sunday with a comprehensive 51-18 thrashing at the hands Harlequins.

Conor O'Shea's men ended a run that has brought them only a draw from their last three league games with an emphatic seven-try victory at the Stoop.

In contrast Leeds, who remain without a win in the Premiership so far this season, face an increasingly tough battle for survival.

The visitors grabbed the first points, though, fly-half Ceiron Thomas slotting an early penalty after Quins went offside.

But four minutes later, after Leeds had turned over Quins ball, Rhys Oakley saw his attempted pass intercepted by Chris Robshaw, who ran in unopposed.

Nick Evans converted to make it 7-3 but on 11 minutes the fly-half failed to extend the hosts' lead when his penalty bounced back off the left upright.

Pressure

Six minutes later Mike Brown broke out from the back in a move that saw the ball into the hands of Joe Marler via Robshaw.

The loosehead drew two of the Leeds defence before feeding Karl Dickson for the scrum-half to race in for Quins' second.

Evans converted again and added another penalty on 21 minutes as Leeds began to wilt under the pressure.

Thomas added his second penalty on 27 minutes after Quins were caught offside but Evans replied with a three-pointer of his own four minutes from half-time.

Quins kept up the pressure on the visitors and Dickson threw a ball from the Leeds line over his head, Brown collected before delivering an inside pass to Evans who darted over by the post

The fly-half converted his own try to take his side into the break with a 27-6 lead and the game all but over as a contest.

Beleaguered

Six minutes after the restart Tom Guest delivered a further blow to the beleaguered Yorkshiremen, shrugging off two weak tackles to claim the fourth try and secure the bonus point.

Evans added the extras but on 50 minutes Leeds finally showed what they are capable of, a strong drive from lock Tom Denton culminating in a try from Lee Blackett. Thomas missed the conversion.

With 10 minutes to go Dickson broke up the left and Brown latched onto his inside pass to finish in style.

Rory Clegg, on as a replacement for Evans, was unable to add the extras and two minutes later Leeds hit back.

Again it was Blackett who broke to claim his second try and Thomas converted to make it 39-18.

But Leeds' tackling let them down and allowed Ross Chisholm in for a great solo effort on 76 minutes, Clegg slotting the conversion to take the hosts to 46-18.

Chris Brooker barged over for Quins' seventh try in the final minute but Clegg missed the conversion.