European Rugby Challenge Cup: Harlequins 20-9 Benetton

Centre Joe Marchant crossed for the second of Quins' two first-half tries

Harlequins beat nearest rivals Benetton at the Stoop to move back to the top of European Challenge Cup Pool 5.

After loosehead prop Lewis Boyce's sixth-minute converted try, Quins crossed again on 23 minutes through centre Joe Marchant.

Ian McKinley kept Benetton in the hunt with three first-half penalties.

But Scotland's James Lang, who kicked both conversions, added a penalty just before the break, followed by another three-pointer from Marcus Smith.

In horrendous conditions in south-west London, Smith's 68th-minute kick proved to be the only score of the second half.

What happens next?

Quins started the day third in the pool, three points behind Benetton, having lost 26-21 to the Italian side last weekend.

In the most tightly contested of the five pools, they are now a point clear of Benetton, with both Grenoble and Agen just a further point back.

The final two rounds of fixtures are on Saturday 12 January, when Benetton host Agen and Harlequins meet Grenoble, followed six days later when Grenoble meet Benetton and Quins go to south-west France to face Agen.

Harlequins: Morris; Murley, Marchant, Saili, Ibitoye; Lang, Mulchrone; Boyce, Ward, Collier, Glynn, Merrick, Luamanu, Kunatani, Chisholm (capt).

Replacements: Elia, Auterac, Sinckler, Bothma, Wallace, Saunders, Smith, Alofa.

Benetton: Hayward; Sperandio, Zanon, Morisi, Ioane; McKinley, Tebaldi; Quaglio, Faiva, Ferrari, Fuser, Budd (capt), Pettinelli, Negri, Steyn.

Replacements: Makelara, Traore, Riccioni, Ruzza, Zanni, Sgarbi, Duvenage, Esposito,

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).

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