Summary

  • Saracens heavily beaten in first Premiership game since their relegation for salary cap breaches was confirmed

  • Murley grabbed two of Quins' six tries against the relegated champions

  • Victory lifts Quins to sixth in the table

  1. Thanks for being with uspublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Well, what a way to end another Premiership weekend.

    More reaction to come across BBC Sport later this evening and we'll have a full report from here at The Stoop as well to read.

    The Premiership takes a break now for a couple of weeks but don't worry, there's no shortage of rugby union to come.

    There's the small matter of the Six Nations kicking-off next weekend for starters.

    Thanks for your company this afternoon and we'll see you soon!

  2. Reactionpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    FT: Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    Harlequins skipper Chris Robshaw tells BT Sport:

    “For the fans, for the players, it’s a huge derby for us. We knew they were missing a lot of key players today and it was a huge opportunity for us and we didn’t want to let it go.

    “Our last two Premiership games we’ve not been quite at the races, we had a disappointing result at Sale, but to come back home and get a massive bonus-point win like that is credit to all the guys."

  3. Reactionpublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    FT: Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    Harlequins' Marcus Smith tells BT Sport:

    “It was such a big game for us, as players and for the fans, and we knew that. We bigged it up in the week.

    "Saracens are a brilliant outfit who have won so many trophies and when they get on top of teams, they stay on top, so we said we had to start fast and nullify their threats."

  4. Postpublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    FT: Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    So defeat for Saracens sees them stay on -7 points at the foot of the table.

    Harlequins with the bonus-point victory climb up to sixth from ninth.

    They're now just a point off the top four.

  5. Full-timepublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    And that is that!

    Harlequins emphatic winners with six tries - three in each half.

    Saracens a wounded animal at the end of that one as they lose to their London neighbours for the first time in four Premiership matches.

    Danny Care tryImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    Stadium announcer confirms that Marcus Smith is the man of the match for Quins.

    Hard to argue with that.

  7. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Harlequins 41-14 Saracens

    Bit of a scrap breaks out from both sides in the closing stages as this one gets very petty all of a sudden.

    No cards dished out by Luke Pearce and he tells them to go away and get this game done.

  8. try

    Try: Harlequins 41-14 Saracenspublished at 76 mins

    Martin Landajo, con Marcus Smith

    A sixth Harlequins try and this one is a real gift for Martin Landajo!

    It's the Argentina scrum-half's first touch of the ball, and it's presented to him on a plate by an error from Matt Gallagher by the touchline.

    Marcus Smith adds another conversion, just, as it bounces through off the right post.

  9. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Bit of scrappy handling from both sides in the loose almost ends with another breakaway attack for Quins.

    Alex Dombrandt once again shows his versatility for Gabriel Ibitoye to chase, but that will evade him and go out of touch.

    Danny Care makes way for the hosts to a near-standing ovation.

  10. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Hugh Godwin
    BBC Radio London co-commentator

    "It will unfold over the next few weeks how these matches involving Saracens effect other teams?

    "It is all very well that Saracens can play and do what they want in the final 10 minutes but this is giving Harlequins a certain result and that effects them and sides around them."

  11. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Quins get out of their 22 from that scrum - just.

    Danny Care's clearance kick catches the stiff breeze blowing back at him and probably denies him another 10 metres to touch.

  12. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Chance goes begging for Saracens as Luke Pearce awards Quins the penalty at the rolling maul.

    Cheers all round in the stands for that defensive effort.

  13. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Another Saracens penalty won inside the Quins 22 for not rolling away.

    They kick to the corner for the five-metre line-out...

  14. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Rare penalty goes Saracens' way at the breakdown for not rolling away and Manu Vunipola can kick to the corner.

    Chance for a third try here? They win a scrum penalty off the top for a Quins knock-on.

    Manu VunipolaImage source, Rex Features
  15. Postpublished at 66 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Great aerial take by Danny Care under pressure from the weather and the opposition under a high ball.

    Saracens desperately trying to force another score here to at least stay in contention.

    Care somehow gathers the mark despite falling backwards to earth in the process.

  16. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Harlequins 34-14 Saracens

    Not been an afternoon to remember so far for Saracens lock Joel Kpoku.

    The ball is fizzed at him from short range as Saracens look to attack and it's a knock-on. Not that he knew much about it.

    He looks despondent with the heavy rain falling around him.

    Sums up the visitors' day really.

  17. Penalty: Harlequins 34-14 Saracenspublished at 59 mins

    Marcus Smith

    Another great bit of vision and confidence from Marcus Smith for Harlequins.

    Spots the space in the Saracens back field with a kick upfield and then he has the pace to chase down his opposite number Manu Vunipola to eventually force the offside.

    Then adds the three points with the penalty off the tee.

  18. try

    Try: Harlequins 31-14 Saracenspublished at 55 mins

    Dom Morris, con Manu Vunipola

    Second Saracens try of the afternoon comes after around 30 phases of knocking on the door deep in Harlequins' 22.

    Dom Morris, the inclusion at inside centre, finishes it off out on the left. And still some of the home crowd boo a score for the visitors.

    Manu Vunipola adds the conversion.

  19. Postpublished at 52 mins

    Harlequins 31-7 Saracens

    Changes on both sides as we move into the last half an hour.

    Ben Spencer among them for Saracens, who not that long ago was coming on in a World Cup final after a late England call-up.

    He must be wondering what he's waked into now!

  20. try

    Try: Harlequins 31-7 Saracenspublished at 48 mins

    Paul Lasike, con Marcus Smith

    And it's five tries now!

    And that may well be the game done and dusted. Paul Lasike crashes over for his first Premiership try at The Stoop after he spots the gap off the end of an attacking like-out.

    Earlier, it was set up by another superb kick downfield from Marcus Smith that put Matt Gallagher in trouble close to his own line before he was hauled out of touch.

    Smith back on target off the tee as he adds another conversion.