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. try

    Try: Harlequins 24-7 Saracenspublished at 45 mins

    Gabriel Ibitoye, missed con Marcus Smith

    Gabriel IbitoyeImage source, Getty Images

    And indeed it is!

    It goes to Quins winger Gabriel Ibitoye who won the chase and slide to the line and nudged Sarries full-back Matt Gallagher out of the way in the process.

    Nothing wrong with it after Luke Pearce and TMO Graham Hughes take a look at the replays.

    Marcus Smith's conversion attempt hits the left post.

  2. Try reviewpublished at 44 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Could be the Quins bonus-point try here....

    Saracens playersImage source, Rex Features
  3. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Missed chance for Quins to get their fourth try perhaps as Danny Care's kick over the top runs a bit too long and into the Saracens in-goal area.

    The visitors can clear upfield and reset.

  4. Postpublished at 42 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Early mark taken by Alex Lewington in the Saracens 22 as Marcus Smith tries to exploit some space in their back field.

    We might see a bit more of that if this weather continues.

  5. Kick-offpublished at 41 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Here we go again!

    Quins v SaracensImage source, Rex Features
  6. Teams coming back out...published at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    HT: Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Here comes Saracens out of the tunnel ready for the second half.

    That's interrupted the latest batch of Ibiza club classics on the PA here sadly.

    Have to head off to the bright lights of the West End for more later perhaps.

    Quins back out as well now as the rain continues to lash down!

  7. Postpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    HT: Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    The rain is VERY HEAVY now at The Stoop.

    Not an afternoon where I'd want to be out there to be honest.

    Let's hope those conditions don't ruin what's been a very enjoyable game so far.

  8. Postpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    HT: Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Hugh Godwin
    BBC Radio London co-commentator

    "Harlequins will be delighted with that half-time scoreline - 19-7 up against a Saracens side who are still the reigning champions.

    "Marcus Smith running the show for Harlequins in that first 20 minutes was very impressive.

    "Saracens showed in that last 10 or 15 minutes that they are not out of this, there is a lot of quality in that side."

  9. Farrell backs Sarries to 'come back' from scandalpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    HT: Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Media caption,

    Saracens will 'come back stronger' - Farrell

    Owen Farrell, one of Saracens' greatest ever servants, has spoken to BBC Sport about the disappointment surrounding the salary cap scandal that has rocked his club.

    While the fly-half is away preparing for the Six Nations with England, the plight of Sarries has been inescapable.

  10. Half-timepublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Quins celebrate tryImage source, Getty Images

    Manu Vunipola kicks to touch off the back of a Saracens scrum and that is that for the first 40.

    But, it's pretty much been all about Harlequins.

    Cadan Murley with two of their three tries and they have really put on a show so far.

    Let's hope for more of the same after the interval.

  11. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Bit of a kicking exchange ensues as the rain keeps coming down.

    It ends up in a Saracens line-out just inside their 22.

  12. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Almost a second Sarries try as Alex Lewington shows both his speed and vision with a run and then kick over the top.

    The bounce not in his favour though as Danny Care can collect close to his try line and kick out of touch.

    Sarries miss the chance to capitalise off the next line-out after a knock-on.

  13. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Easy now gents!

    Chris Robshaw and Callum Hunter-Hill exchange a few words after Robshaw knock-on but then kicks the ball clear downfield before the whistle goes.

    Earlier, Aaron Morris found himself picked up by three Sarries players, so they're still fighting (literally and metaphorically) in this one!

  14. Postpublished at 33 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    The rain is back at The Stoop and there's a break in play as a few bumps and bruises are tended to on both sides.

    Let's hope the weather doesn't spoil what's been a free-flowing contest so far.

  15. Postpublished at 33 mins

    Harlequins 19-7 Saracens

    Just goes to show you can't keep a Saracens side out of a game for long.

    But as mentioned, that was their first real chance to get any sort of attack going.

    Harlequins v SaracensImage source, Getty Images
  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 30 mins

    #bbcrugby

    Alex: What does Marcus Smith have to do to get picked by England? Proven operator in the Prem for almost 3 seasons, great skills and vision. Can see him going the way of Cipriani - mercurial talent but not quite right in England’s eyes.

    There is no doubt that Smith has shown what he is capable of today.

  17. try

    Try: Harlequins 19-7 Saracenspublished at 29 mins

    Alex Lozowski, con Manu Vunipola

    And now the Premiership and European Champions are on the board.

    Relentless pressure from a five-metre line-out eventually sees Alex Lozowski crash over under the posts.

    A few boos from the home fans, but nothing wrong with that at all.

    Quins were caught offside three times in the build-up so something was coming.

    Manu Vunipola adds the easy conversion.

  18. Postpublished at 26 mins

    Harlequins 19-0 Saracens

    Sarries look shell-shocked by this display so far.

    Absolutely spot on from Hugh Godwin there as Quins have given them no sniff of a chance to get going in attack so far.

  19. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Harlequins 19-0 Saracens

    Hugh Godwin
    BBC Radio London co-commentator

    "There is certainly no fluke to it. There is not luck in this scoreline because they have created these tries with their own good play and finished them when it has not been easy to do so.

    "Saracens haven't had any chances at the other end."

    Harlequins v Saracens actionImage source, PA Media
  20. try

    Try: Harlequins 19-0 Saracenspublished at 22 mins

    Cadan Murley, con Marcus Smith

    Try number three for Quins and number two for Cadan Murley!

    Dazzling stuff from the hosts down the right wing this time, started by Marcus Smith.

    He then combines with Paul Lasike and then Cadan Murley who out-paces Dom Morris to finish.

    Smith then adds the extras and Quins are cruising this.