JAMIE ROBERTS, THE returning Nick Evans and George Lowe all scored tries as Harlequins outclassed Grenoble to reach the European Challenge Cup final in a 30-6 victory.
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Quins have been in fine form in continental competition this season and Roberts crashed over in the first half, before Evans — playing his first match since February due to a broken leg — scored a brilliant solo try and Lowe made sure of the win 12 minutes from the end in the semi-final contest at The Stoop.
However, England prop Joe Marler, returning following a two-week ban from World Rugby for calling Wales’ Samson Lee ‘gypsy boy’, may find himself in more trouble after appearing to aim a kick at the head of Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy.
Ben Botica kicked Quins into a sixth-minute lead and Grenoble were dealt a blow when centre Nigel Hunt was forced off with a knee injury.
And the hosts extended the lead when Roberts burst through a gap in the defence after good work in the ruck by Quins.
Jonathan Wisniewski, the competition’s most prolific player, put Grenoble on the board and — after Botica made it three from three with the boot – he nailed a 29th successive kick in all competitions to make it a seven-point deficit at the break.
Heguy complained at half-time that he was kicked in the head by Marler, and Grenoble’s mood did not improve after the interval as full-back Evans brilliantly collected his own grubber kick to score under the posts before adding the conversion himself.
Conor O’Shea’s men then put the match beyond doubt when Danny Care’s clever kick was scooped up by Lowe to score Quins’ third, and they will now go in search of a fourth Challenge Cup victory in next month’s final.
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Bad night for Jackman's Grenoble as classy Quins storm into Challenge Cup final
Harlequins 30
Grenoble 6
JAMIE ROBERTS, THE returning Nick Evans and George Lowe all scored tries as Harlequins outclassed Grenoble to reach the European Challenge Cup final in a 30-6 victory.
Quins have been in fine form in continental competition this season and Roberts crashed over in the first half, before Evans — playing his first match since February due to a broken leg — scored a brilliant solo try and Lowe made sure of the win 12 minutes from the end in the semi-final contest at The Stoop.
However, England prop Joe Marler, returning following a two-week ban from World Rugby for calling Wales’ Samson Lee ‘gypsy boy’, may find himself in more trouble after appearing to aim a kick at the head of Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy.
Ben Botica kicked Quins into a sixth-minute lead and Grenoble were dealt a blow when centre Nigel Hunt was forced off with a knee injury.
And the hosts extended the lead when Roberts burst through a gap in the defence after good work in the ruck by Quins.
Jonathan Wisniewski, the competition’s most prolific player, put Grenoble on the board and — after Botica made it three from three with the boot – he nailed a 29th successive kick in all competitions to make it a seven-point deficit at the break.
Heguy complained at half-time that he was kicked in the head by Marler, and Grenoble’s mood did not improve after the interval as full-back Evans brilliantly collected his own grubber kick to score under the posts before adding the conversion himself.
Conor O’Shea’s men then put the match beyond doubt when Danny Care’s clever kick was scooped up by Lowe to score Quins’ third, and they will now go in search of a fourth Challenge Cup victory in next month’s final.
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Challenge Cup Convincing George Lowe Jamie Roberts Joe Marler Nick Evans Rugby Union Grenoble Rugby Harlequins