mens
challenge-cup
Marcus Smith shrugged off a first-half sin bin to help Harlequins to a 57-19 bonus point victory Valves in group three of the European Challenge Cup.
England fullback Smith scored 22 points from two tries and six conversions, despite enduring a spell on the sidelines due to a deliberate kick.
It was a much-needed dominant display from the home side, who managed to throw off Gallagher Prem’s safe start to the new campaign.
Quins led 26-14 at the interval, Cadan Murley scoring twice and Smith and Will Hobson also crossing the line as the visitors responded through Wayan De Benedittis and winger Enzo Benmegalo.
Benmegal reduced the deficit with his second just after the break, but the home side never looked in danger of surrendering the lead and further tries from Sam Riley and Smith saw them through again and dry by the end of the hour.
With the pressure off, Quins stepped up their quest for the bonus point and came through with three more tries in the final 15 minutes, with a stretch from Will Evans adding one from Jimmy Staples.
harlequins: 15 George Furbank; 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Luke Northmore (Tyrone Green 70), 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley (c); 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday (Will Porter 61); 1 Will Hobson (Harry Johnson-Holmes 57), 2 Sam Riley (Jimmy Staples 49), 3 Ollie Streeter (Pedro Delgado 45), 4 James Dun (Elliot Williams 57), 5 Kieran Treadwell (Harry Browne 57), 6 Guido Petiscoll, EWb Dr. Lucas Schmid.
RC Vannes: 15 Joe Jonas (Robin Gicquel 62); 14 Paul Bard, 13 Marin Boulier, 12 Inia Tabuavou (Robin Taccola 50), 11 Enzo Benmegal; 10 Jean Cotarmanac’h, 9 Simione Kuruvoli (Mikheil Alania 55); 1 Wayan de Benedittis (Hugo Djehi 50), 2 Theo Beziat (Hayam El Bibouji 50), 3 Santiago Medrano (Simon Bourgeois 67), 4 Thomas Ployet, 5 Matteo Desjeux, 6 Bautista Pedemonte, 7 Bautista Pedemonte, 7 Jesse Steeve Blanchuis (2)-M Brown (Bazilije Pavle 50).