Summary

  • FT: Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

  • Marchant (2) & Clifford with Quins tries

  • Evans, Hook & Matu'u with Gloucester replies

  • Quins ended match with 14 men

  • 77,567 in attendance at Twickenham

  1. Thanks for your companypublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2016

    FT: Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Harlequins celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    That's it from me then, after a crowd of 77,567 watched another thriller between Harlequins and Gloucester at Twickenham.

    I hope you enjoyed the game and have a very good evening.

    Goodnight.

  2. Harlequins hold on to winpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2016

    FT: Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    That wins moves Quins back up to sixth in the Premiership, above Northampton, who won on 23 December against Sale.

    Gloucester's losing bonus point sees them climb above Newcastle into eighth place.

  3. Harlequins hold on to winpublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2016

    FT: Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Well, it was another thriller in the festive fixture at Twickenham, wasn't it?!

    It was a slow burner to start with, but that game really got going in the second half.

  4. Full-timepublished at 80+1 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    What a finish! But Quins win! It's there!

    Gloucester were driving forward, five metres out. But Quins turned the ball over and kicked clear... they'd won? No, not yet, the ball was not dead.

    And Jonny May had another go, running across field. Quins sensed danger.

    But Gloucester ran our of room... And ran out of time. A thrilling finale, but a four-point win for Quins.

  5. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Gloucester opt for a line-out. They're in the Quins 22. They're driving towards the line...

  6. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Gloucester, who have a man advantage, might get one last chance.

    They have possession, on halfway...

  7. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Gloucester come forward dangerously but suddenly the pressure is relieved as Alofa Alofa wins the ball back for Quins and gets it clear down the left.

    His break is halted but the ball is in the Gloucester half, right where Quins need it to be.

  8. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    From a Quins scrum in their own 22, Danny Care kicks the ball out for a Gloucester line-out.

  9. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Greig LaidlawImage source, Rex Features

    Gloucester can sense they have a big chance here. How are your nerves, Quins fans?

  10. Sin-bin (Clifford)published at 71 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    Meanwhile, JP Doyle sends Quins' Jack Clifford to the bin because of a professional foul in the build-up to that Gloucester try,

    So the hosts will end this game with 14 men.

  11. try

    Try (Matu'u, con Burns)published at 71 mins

    Harlequins 28-24 Gloucester

    We're in for some finish now! Replacement prop Motu Matu'u gets his first Premiership try, diving over after a driving maul down the right flank.

    Billy Burns' perfect kick brings Gloucester to within four.

  12. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

    Today's attendance at Twickenham is confirmed as 77,567 - wow.

    That's some turnout and a terrific justification for festive Premiership rugby.

    TwickenhamImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

    Gloucester are penalised for not releasing by referee JP Doyle and they lose possession on the halfway line.

    Time is starting to run out for the Cherry and Whites.

  14. Chance for a try missedpublished at 66 mins

    Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

    Gloucester should score here but Willie Heinz is denied! Tim Visser does brilliantly to get back and stop him as the Gloucester man is stumbling towards the line.

    Jonny May had started it with a fine offload, close to the touchline. And the break was rapid, right until the moment Visser came powering across to intervene.

    That could be a crucial moment. Gloucester remain 11 points adrift.

  15. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

    So, 11 points in the game, 15 minutes to play. Can Gloucester give us a grand finale?

  16. try

    Try (Hook, con Laidlaw)published at 62 mins

    Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

    There is it, Gloucester do get back into the match. This is turning into quite some second half!

    Jonny May and James Hook combine well and Hook dummies before turning inside the get the ball over. May's run was top class there and he showed really good hands.

    Greig Laidlaw's kick is good too.

  17. Postpublished at 61 mins

    Harlequins 28-10 Gloucester

    Down the other end, Gloucester press for a try but they're held up a few metres out.

    They still have possession though, about 15m from the line.

  18. try

    Try (Marchant, con Jackson)published at 59 mins

    Harlequins 28-10 Gloucester

    Joe MarchantImage source, Getty Images

    Great rugby! Joe Marchant is in for his second try of the game after neat Quins work from a right-wing set-piece.

    They gather the ball form the line-out, 5m out, and spread it across the field quickly, eventually finding Marchant, who evades a Gloucester tackle with a strong hand-off to put Quins well clear.

    Ruaridh Jackson's kick makes it 28-10.

  19. Replacements (Gloucester)published at 57 mins

    Harlequins 21-10 Gloucester

    Gloucester make further changes, with Motu Matu'u and Andy Symons coming on for Richard Hibbard and Billy Twelvetrees.

  20. Postpublished at 54 mins

    Harlequins 21-10 Gloucester

    Gloucester win a penalty in the Quins half because of a very late tackle.

    But Greig Laidlaw does not opt to kick for the posts. They want another try.

    Meanwhile, the visitors make a series of changes, with second row Tom Savage needing to go off because of blood.