Harlequins Hit Nine Tries to Rout Vannes 57-19
Harlequins thrashed RC Vannes 57-19 at Twickenham Stoop on 18 October to open their European Challenge Cup campaign in style. The London club ran in nine tries in the Pool 1, Round 1 tie BBC Sport. Kick-off in south-west London was at 1pm Harlequins.
Both teams arrived desperate for a win. Quins had lost all three of their Prem games this season, England's top flight, and sat bottom of the table. Vannes were also bottom, in their case of France's Top 14, after four defeats from four.
Quins led 26-14 at half-time and then pulled away fast. They scored five more tries after the break. Vannes managed only one in reply.
Fly-half Marcus Smith, the playmaker who runs the attack from No. 10, led the charge. He scored two tries and kicked six conversions, the extra kicks at goal after a try, for a personal haul of 22 points. His afternoon included 10 minutes on the sidelines after a yellow card in the 37th minute for a deliberate knock-on, slapping the ball down to stop an attack.
Captain Cadan Murley scored twice from the wing. Flanker Will Evans, a forward who does much of the tackling and carrying, also grabbed two. Prop Will Hobson, hooker Sam Riley and replacement Jimmy Staples added one try apiece.
Vannes kept fighting to the end. Enzo Benmegal scored twice for the French visitors. Wayan De Benedittis added their other try.
The occasion carried extra meaning for Quins. This was their first game at this stage of the Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club competition below the Champions Cup, since 2018. They have won the trophy three times, a joint record, most recently in 2011. Vannes won promotion last season as champions of Pro D2, France's second division.
Irish referee Peter Martin controlled the game. He punished Smith just before half-time but otherwise let both sides play.
What makes this stand out is the release of pressure. Nine tries will not fix a league campaign on its own. But for a squad short on wins, it was a reminder of how sharp Quins can look when the passes stick and the support runners keep coming.
