Saracens beat Harlequins in Premiership Rugby Cup

Rotimi Segun tries to fight off two Quins' tacklers in Saracens 28-26 win over their London rivals

Premiership contenders Saracens beat local rivals Harlequins 28-26 in an enthralling encounter in the latest round of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

In a fiercely fought contest, the away team took an early lead, hooker Jack Walker benefitting from the work of his forward pack to drive over from a rolling maul within the first five minutes.

Stung by conceding early, Saracens responded through winger Tobias Elliott - the young winger latching onto a perfectly placed grubber kick from centre Olly Hartley to touch down in the corner.

Fly-half Tiff Eden added to the Saracens lead with a penalty before Quins winger Nick David broke through the red and black wall to release Tyrone Green for the away team's second try of the day.

Nick David tries to evade two Saracens tacklers

The score did not remain the same for long, with Sarries' young lock Kennedy Sylvester forcing his way over from a metre out as half-time beckoned.

The lead was to change yet again just after the break, with Lennox Anyanwu powering over from close range to put Quins two points ahead.

But it was Saracens' experience that proved to be the difference, with two further Eden penalties putting the home side once again in the lead before Hartley dotted down with less than three minutes to play.

Nathan Jibulu's try with the final play of the match was enough to earn Danny Wilson's men a losing bonus point, but proved scant consolation.

The result leaves both teams in contention in Pool C, with three rounds of the group stage yet to be played.

With all six of the day's fixtures proving a battle against the elements, five other games took place as free flowing rugby gave way to pragmatism.

Bath narrowly avoided embarrassment in Pool D, beating Bedford Blues 21-7 in a closely-fought match at Goldington Road.

After a scoreless first half, Bedford scored with 25 minutes to go through Will Maisey, the fly-half the first man to the ball after a kick and chase in the Bath half.

With less than 10 minutes to go, it looked like the home fans could be treated to a notable Blues victory, before constant Bath pressure finally told.

Number eight Alfie Barbeary finally found a way through the stubborn home defence, going over from close range to tie the scores.

The try took the wind out of the Blues' sails with replacement hooker Kepu Tuipolotu and then Barbeary getting two further late tries to break Bedford hearts.

The result leaves Bedford level on five points with Bristol before the Bears' match against Ampthill on Sunday, while Bath top the pool with 14.

Championship table-toppers Coventry narrowly lost 19-10 in Pool B to Midlands rivals Northampton Saints in an attritional battle at the Butts Park Arena.

The Saints took an early lead through George Hendy, the full-back breaking through a tackle 70 yards out and evading the cover for a memorable score.

Former Worcester stalwart Matt Kvesic then responded for the home team, after winger David Opoku was halted with the line beckoning. Carefully recycled ball saw Kvesic force his way over, although the conversion was missed.

With the rain streaking down, Coventry surprised their more illustrious opponents early in the second half, winger Ryan Hutler connecting with a Josh Barton box-kick to put Jon Sharp's men in the lead for the first time in the match.

But it was not to be for the Championship side, with the Saints' experience showing in the final quarter. Two tries directly from lineouts for lock Chunya Munga and industrious hooker Curtis Langdon sealed an eventually comfortable Saints victory.

Both teams are still in contention in the pool, with the Saints four points ahead of Coventry in second.

In Pool C, Ealing Trailfinders saw off London Scottish 36-5 in a one-sided affair in the capital. Knowing that a win would keep them in contention in the all-London pool, Ben Ward's men took the lead through centre Jordan Holgate, after a well-worked lineout move.

The away team then responded, number eight Zach Carr crashing over in the corner after a driving maul. Repeated penalties from the Exiles saw flanker Jack Ingall yellow carded, before Matt Cornish restored the Trailfinders' lead, burrowing over after repeated phases.

Following the break, the rampaging Holgate secured his second try, picking a hole in the Exiles defence to dot down untouched, before tries for team-mates Ben Harris, Bobby De Wee and Rayn Smid secured the bonus point that leaves Ward's men top of the pool, ahead of Harlequins on points difference.

In Pool E, Hartpury were forced to move their match to the all-weather pitch, but that did not stop them from seeing off Championship rivals Cornish Pirates 41-26.

The visitors were the stronger side in the first half - taking the lead through scrum-half Cameron Jones after a break by Pirates' winger Robin Wedlake-Millecam. After a scrappy passage, the Cornishmen then added to their advantage, full-back Will Trewin exploiting a hole in the home side's defence.

Winger Arthur Relton capped off a fine third try for the away side, touching down after gathering a cross-field kick in an end-to-end score.

Hartpury managed to scramble a try through Aristot Benz-Solomon and converted a penalty to leave them nine points down at the break.

With the conditions worsening, the home side then scored three tries back to back through scrum-half Mike Austin, the dominant Benz-Solomon and winger Oliver Holiday to take the game away from their opponents.

The Pirates responded through captain Hugh Bokenham but Hartpury's Sam Lewis put the game beyond doubt with just over 10 minutes to go.

The result leaves Hartpury in contention in Pool E, but effectively ends any Pirates hopes in the cup.

In the day's other match between Championship clubs, Caldy were overwhelmed by visitors Doncaster Knights 43-19 in Pool A.

After a scrappy start, the home team took the lead through winger Will Robinson, who burst through a hole in midfield to dot down under the posts.

Doncaster responded quickly through number eight Morgan Strong, before hooker Matt Gallagher put the home team back in front following a line-out.

That was about as good as it got as it got for the home team, as the Knights piled on the pressure scoring tries through Zack Kerr and Tom Currie either side of half-time.

Further misery was inflicted by Jordan Olowofela, former England international Semesa Rokoduguni and Morgan Bunting before the home side scored a consolation try through Ollie Hearn with less than 10 minutes to go.

With three pool games to go, Caldy are all but out of the competition, while Doncaster face an uphill battle to make it through to the knock-out stages.