A much improved second half nevertheless saw Leicester Tigers fall in their opening Premiership home match of 24/25.
Full credit must go to the visitors for their clinical scores but Tigers were often their own worst enemies and took until the second half to fully kick into gear.
It’s a poor start for the hosts as Sarah Nicholas’ kick doesn’t go the required distance and we have a scrum to start off, a second shortly afterwards as ‘Quins knock on.
The base is solid and Tigers begin the phases, Katie Childs and today’s captain, Charlotte Fray, carrying well into midfield.
Eventually, Tigers opt to clear and ‘Quins make the game’s first significant metres, making it to the 22 before winning a penalty and kicking to touch just five metres out.
From here, the visitors get the opening score. Tigers defend the maul well as well as the subsequent carries but eventually the pressure tells, lock Kaitlan Leaney driving low and going over for the game’s opening score.
Looking to respond, strong defence from Charlotte Daley helps Tigers reclaim possession as her opposite number is put into touch.
From there, Daley then makes the hoists first significant break, coming in round the back to nip through a couple of trailing arms before being dragged down. Two carries later, Tigers win the penalty and opt to go to touch but the throw is not straight and possession is ceded on halfway.
Quins can’t make touch but then neither can Tigers on the clearance and it allows the visitors to battle their way to the line through wing Lisa Neumann. Leicester do really well to stay composed and fire through the subsequent ruck and claim possession back, Nicholas’ clearance much better on this occasion.
Tigers’ breakdown work has been superb thus far and they win the ball back once again; Catha Jacobs carries hard before Swartz opts for territory and boots upfield. Exemplary defence forces a knock on and possession is reclaimed again.
Carries come in from the likes of Alana Bainbridge and Amanda Swartz but the ball is lost and Quins attack quickly.
Captain Lagi Tuima floats a kick over the top that Katie Shillaker takes at full pace. Tigers do well to scramble back, with successive big shots coming in from lock duo Catha Jacobs and Julia Omokhuale before a knock on is forced in front of the posts.
From the scrum, Evie Wills makes sublime metres to bulldoze upfield, before Russell and then Omokhuale get us up to halfway.
Katie Childs carries up well but, when the ball is spread wide, Quins get their second, wing Lisa Neumann stealing the ball out of the air to run it home from halfway.
Once again Tigers look to come back; a brutal break through midfield from Leah Bartlett allows the prop to offload to a rampaging Omokhuale, who storms up to halfway. The offload goes awry however and another great chance falls by the wayside.
Possession trades hands several times here as Tigers struggle for a consistent attacking foothold. Elin Beaver makes great yards stepping infield but there’s not enough support and there’s a turnover at the breakdown.
Tigers get the next turnover and it is vital; Quins advance to the line through hard carries but Tigers get right over the ball and win possession back, then able to clear to halfway.
However, on the stroke of halftime, Quins make the most of possession. The ball is rapidly whipped wide and gives wing Katie Shillaker a yard of space.
That’s all she needs as she flies into the space out wide, outpacing the cover tackle and then gamely stepping inside to score as the first half comes to an end.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 0 – 19 Harlequins Women
The second half brings a couple of changes, with Sophie Benavent, Tess Feury and Francesca McGhie brought on.
The latter makes an impact early doors with a big hit on opposing wing Neuman to help win back possession before the former makes a physical introduction with a big carry upfield. However, an infringement at the ruck results in possession lost and a deep kick outside of the 22.
Once again the hosts show their desire to front up in defence and win a turnover through strong midfield defence from centres Childs and Wills before, following a knock on, Amy Relf does superbly to pop up in the visitors line and steal the ball.
Once again the midfield battle resumes; there’s big shots abound from the likes of Jacobs and Childs but neither side can keep possession for very long.
The second half deadlock is broken after an infringement in midfield sees a kick to touch and a rumble then twist to score from replacement Jade Konkel.
It awakens something in the hosts as, finally, Tigers break the deadlock. There’s brutal yards made by Jacobs and Bartlett before a snipe from Amy Relf sees the scrum half break free.
The visitors concede the penalty and Relf takes it quickly, dashing to five metres out and forcing a second, wherein big carries from first Omokhuale then Fray get Tigers over the line.
It’s nearly two in two minutes in what would have had Leicester right back into the contest but Fray is cruelly denied a brace as the ball is held up by the visitors.
Quins clear their lines well and advance up field, scuppering the momentum gained.
As the hosts try to advance out of their own half a knock on is called and then a penalty given, allowing Quins a five metre line out. From here, the phases are played and Leaney drives over for her second of the match.
With ten minutes to go Tigers enjoy the lions share of possession and get the reward for their endeavour.
McGhie, Fray and Childs all carry well before eventually Omokhuale powers over from short range, a just reward for an immense all action performance from the lock.
Seconds later, the Canadian makes another mega break, sprinting through in midfield and making forty metres. She’s brought to ground but the ball is recycled well and Katie Childs crashes over to close the game.
