Quins defeat gritty Sale Sharks thanks to a second-half comeback

Harlequins Women got back to winning with a bonus point win as they ran out 31-21 winners over at the CorpAcq Stadium.

Sale went into the break leading 14-10 thanks to first-half tries from Georgie Perris-Redding and Vicky A Irwin.

The away side also scored two tries in the first-half through Hannah Sims and Amy Cokayne but accurate kicking from Irwin meant Sale had the advantage.

Quins came out of the block fast in the second-half securing their bonus point with tries from Bella McKenzie, Emily Chancellor and Freya Aucken.

A late Joanna Kitlinski try wasn’t enough for Sale who have now lost three on the spin leaving them 7^th in the Allianz Premier 15s table.

With the bonus point away victory Quins leapfrog Bristol Bears into the top four as they seek to make the semi-finals for another year.

Sale were first to venture into the opposition’s territory as centre Katana Howard produced a brilliant 50:22 to give her side a lineout five metres out.

After some strong carries the home side went over in the fourth minute as captain Perris-Redding got the first try of the game.

Outside centre, Irwin added the extra two with the conversion.

Quins responded in the 11^th minute as prop Sims crashed over from a few yards after her team stole the ball on the right to begin the attack.

McKenzie couldn’t repeat Irwin’s earlier kicking success as her conversion drifted wide of the posts.

Quins were on the attack once again and they opted to kick to touch from a penalty but they bit off more than they could chew with the ball going dead, easing pressure on the home side.

After a great turnover by Quins’ winger Ella Amory they secured a lineout in Sale’s 22 and drove over with a great rolling maul, dotted down by Cokayne.

Once again though McKenzie couldn’t add the extra two.

The away side seemed to be the side on top at this stage but after a turned over ball, Sale’s out-half Lizzie Duffy went through a gap with an excellent dummy.

She passed to Irwin but she was brought down just before the line.

Irwin wasn’t to be denied though as she received a tip on by Duffy and went over before adding the extra two once again.

The home side went in at half-time leading by 14 points to 10.

Quins struck first after the break with McKenzie dancing her way through the defence before adding the extra two to put Quins back ahead.

The away side extended their lead five minutes later as Chancellor went over after Quins made use of an overlap on the right.

McKenzie once again converted for another two points.

Sale weathered a Quins onslaught in the next twenty minutes with the ball being held up on their line twice before Niamh Swailes was sent to the bin for stopping a driving maul.

Their defence was finally breached by their London opponent when Lagi Tuima put winger Aucken through a hole to dot down.

McKenzie’s conversion meant the away side lead by 17 points with only five minutes on the clock.

This didn’t dishearten Sale Sharks who continued to battle and were rewarded in the final play of the match when substitute hooker Kitlinski powered over from a few yards to cut the deficit to ten points.

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