Harlequins secured a crucial 24-7 victory over Glasgow to advance to the Champions Cup knockout stages, showcasing a dominant first-half performance despite a quieter second half. The win, which guaranteed Quins’ spot in the last 16, was powered by a strong opening period where they scored two tries and added a penalty. Cadan Murley was at the heart of both early tries, before contributing a third in the final quarter to seal the win.
Glasgow, already assured of qualification with a home tie in the next round, showed moments of brilliance, particularly with a stunning try from Tom Jordan, but they struggled to maintain their momentum. The loss of Sione Tuipulotu to injury earlier in the week was a significant blow, and the early departure of Scott Cummings, one of Glasgow’s key locks, compounded their difficulties.
The match began with Harlequins applying early pressure, and they were rewarded with a try in the 14th minute. Marcus Smith’s cross-kick found Cadan Murley, who made a powerful run to set up Chandler Cunningham-South for the opening score. The second try came shortly after, with James Chisholm, moved from the back row to the locks, playing a key role. Murley again demonstrated his attacking prowess, this time releasing Nick David down the right wing. Cunningham-South’s offload allowed Chisholm to power through for Quins’ second try.
Marcus Smith added a penalty to extend the lead to 17-0, but Glasgow managed to respond with a brilliant try of their own. Stafford McDowall, who had taken over the captaincy in the absence of Kyle Steyn, played a pivotal role in setting up the try. His pass released Kyle Rowe down the left wing, and Rowe’s support play allowed Jamie Dobie to offload to Tom Jordan, who finished under the posts. It was a moment of individual brilliance that gave Glasgow a foothold in the match.
Despite this, Harlequins maintained control, and although they thought they had scored a third try just before halftime through Ben Waghorn, the television match official ruled it out for obstruction. Oscar Beard’s dummy had inadvertently opened up the gap for Waghorn by obstructing Huw Jones, and the score was disallowed.
At halftime, Quins led by 10 points, but Glasgow came out with renewed energy in the second half. They dominated possession and territory, but Quins’ defense held firm, frustrating the visitors’ attacking efforts. Glasgow had several opportunities to break through but failed to capitalize on their possession.
The decisive moment came in the 68th minute when Harlequins turned defense into attack. With Glasgow on the offensive, Quins managed to win a turnover, and Alex Dombrandt quickly released Murley down the left wing. Glasgow’s defense was caught out of position, and Murley sprinted to the posts to score Quins’ third try.
By this point, the bonus point no longer mattered for Quins’ qualification, as results elsewhere ensured their progression to the knockout stages. Despite finishing the match in the ascendancy, they were unable to add a fourth try. However, their victory was enough to secure a place in the last 16, offering a glimmer of hope for English rugby in the competition.
