Stade Francais 27-17 Harlequins: Quins out of Challenge Cup
Last Updated: 22/01/17 5:32pm
Harlequins crashed out of the Challenge Cup following a 27-17 defeat to Stade Francais in a delayed Pool 5 match at Stade Jean Bouin.
The kick-off for this sixth-round clash was put back 90 minutes after a problem with a small section of the pitch which was frozen, but play finally got under way.
Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, Julian Arias and Craig Burden crossed over for the home side with Jules Plisson adding the extras and two penalties.
The Premiership side hit back through tries from Mat Luamanu, Marland Yarde and James Chisholm - while Tim Swiel added a goal - but their second-half fightback proved too little too late.
The hosts opened the scoring as Arias sent Vuidarvuwalu over for a try after 15 minutes which Plisson converted.
Arias crossed for Stade Francais' second five-pointer midway through the first half with France fly-half Plisson on target again before he added a penalty a minute before the break.
But Luamanu's late try reduced the deficit to give Harlequins a little hope but with a lot of work to do as they trailed 17-5 at half-time.
Plisson added a second penalty early in the second half and Burden crossed over a long-range try after 51 minutes to extend the home side's lead.
England wing Yarde pulled one back for the visitors just before the hour mark as he sliced through the defence to touch down under the posts and Swiel converted.
Although Chisholm crossed over three minutes from time to narrow the gap, Stade Francais held on to clinch their spot in the last eight.
