Premiership: Harlequins 37-24 Leicester - Marcus Smith stars for Quins

Marcus Smith celebrated his new Quins deal with 22 points against Tigers

Resurgent Harlequins chalked up a third straight win after an entertaining Premiership tussle with Leicester.

Cyle Brink crossed to put the Tigers ahead before converted tries from Mike Brown and Marcus Smith, who also landed two penalties to put the hosts 20-7 up.

Jack van Poortvliet replied for the visitors, but Andre Esterhuizen's score gave Quins a 30-17 half-time lead.

Louis Lynagh's score secured the bonus point, leaving George Martin's first senior try pure consolation.

Quins' revival continued under general manager Billy Millard as a strong first-half attacking display put them well on their way to a third win since Paul Gustard's departure and a first victory at The Stoop since August.

Once again fly-half Smith, fresh from signing a new long-term deal, was at the heart of things, putting the hosts ahead with two penalties after Brown had finished off a flowing move to cancel out Brink's early close-range score.

Will Evans' incisive break then teed up Smith who found a sharp line to cut through the Tigers defence.

Despite shipping 20 unanswered points, Leicester responded well when scrum-half Van Poortvliet crossed for his first senior try after a sniping run from just outside the 22.

Smith and opposite Zack Henry exchanged penalties to keep the gap at six points, but tries either side of half-time ultimately floored the visitors.

Esterhuizen powered over off the scrum with the last play of the first half, before more magic from Smith set Lynagh away down the wing to cross and seal Harlequins' four-try bonus-point.

A fourth conversion took Smith - the Premiership's leading points scorer this season - to 22 points for the match and 126 for the campaign.

England prop Dan Cole came on to make his 250th appearance and the Tigers responded quickly, giving themselves a glimmer of hope through Martin's score following a charge down, chase and offload from captain Jaco Taute.

But despite plenty of intent and possession, Leicester could not convert their late pressure into a try or losing bonus point, and they remain winless away from home since victory at Newcastle in April 2019.

Harlequins, who have chalked up three straight wins for the first time since March 2019, move level on points with third-placed Sale, while Leicester remain eighth.

Harlequins attack coach Nick Evans:

"Leicester had a few players missing but we know what they're about, we worked well and the guys nailed their jobs.

"It was cold and rock hard and but we've been working hard this week training on the 3G and the guys have backed that up with a good performance."

Harlequins stand-off Marcus Smith:

"It's been a long time since we got a bonus point here at The Stoop. We'd almost forgotten what it's like to win here,."

Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Radio Leicester:

"We're clearly disappointed with the result. At the end of the game we were inches away from taking two points, and ultimately they played very well and were clinical in taking their chances.

"There are two things. The first is how can we be more clinical and take the number of chances we created because we had plenty of opportunities.

"The second element is to come away and score three tries, we'd aim to get more from the game, so how we ensure we don't give the opposition that many opportunities."

Harlequins: Brown; Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Morris; Smith, Care, Marler, Baldwin, Kerrod, Symons, Lewies (capt), White, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Elia, Garcia Botta, Louw, Young, De Carpentier, Landajo, Herron, Tapuai.

Sin-bin: Liebenberg (41)

Leicester: Steward; Moroni, Taute (capt), Scott, Murimurivalu; Henry, Van Poortvliet; De Bruin, Montoya, Heyes, Lavanini, Green, Martin, Brink, Liebenberg.

Replacements: T Youngs, Leatigaga, Cole, Wells, Reffell, White, McPhillips, Kelly.

Sin-bin: Symons (41).

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU).

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