Premiership: Harlequins 28-17 Gloucester

Yarde has scored two tries in two appearances this season

Harlequins bounced back from their opening day defeat with victory over Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop.

Quins suffered a shock loss to newly-promoted London Irish last week, but tries from Dave Ward and Charlie Walker opened up a 17-3 lead at the break.

Gloucester replied through Freddie Clarke before Marcus Smith punished Glos indiscipline with two penalties.

Marland Yarde was set up by Mike Brown to extend Quins lead before Gloucester got a consolation through Jacob Rowan.

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Gloucester, who begun head coach Johan Ackermann's reign with victory over Premiership Champions Exeter, were left to rue an error-strewn performance at the Stoop.

The two sides traded early penalties as fly-halves Demetri Catrakilis and Billy Burns made it 3-3, but having opened the scoring Catrakilis was taken off on a stretcher.

His replacement Marcus Smith, despite a bad miss from the tee, had a hand in both first-half tries and was influential throughout, linking-up well with prop Kyle Sinckler before flanker Ward crashed through on the angle.

But as torrential rain threatened to put an end to running rugby Smith stepped past two Gloucester defenders in his own half as Walker finished off a fine team try.

Gloucester looked brighter in the second half as neat play in the 22 saw Clarke ease over the line, but the Cherry and Whites gave away two cheap penalties as Quins pulled away.

Lovely feet from Brown - who broke Nick Easter's club record with his 282nd Quins appearance - set up Yarde for his second try of the season and their first victory, despite Rowan's late effort.

Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston:

"The bottom line was I demanded a reaction from last week. That wasn't what we feel we are.

"I have just said to them that if two games encompass what this league is about, it is there. You have to want it. If you are not absolutely desperate, you will come unstuck in this league."

On the injury to Demetri Catrakilis:

"It was a shoulder to his throat and that was causing him difficulty.

"He did not breathe for a few seconds but then he started to and the oxygen helped him after he came off the pitch.

"He has gone to hospital and they will probably assess him overnight. It is precautionary but when you get a blockage like that, it is something you have to react quickly to."

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann:

"It was very disappointing, not the result but the way we played.

"I don't want to take anything away from Harlequins but the mistakes we made just made it easy for them.

"We must have a good look at ourselves. I knew we should not get over-excited about week one. This is a big disappointment but we will put it behind us."

Harlequins: Brown; Yarde, Marchant, Roberts, Walker; Catrakilis, Care; Marler, Gray, Sinckler; Merrick, Horwill (capt); Robshaw, Ward, Clifford.

Replacements: Elia, Lambert, Collier, Glynn, Luamanu, Lewis, Smith, Stanley.

Gloucester: Woodward; Thorley, Scott, Symons, Purdy; Burns, Heinz (capt); Hohneck, Hibbard, Balmain, Savage, Thrush, Ackermann, Ludlow, Clarke.

Replacements: Matu'u, Rapava Ruskin, Afoa, Slater, Rowan, Vellacott, Twelvetrees, Sharples.