MATCH REPORT | SHARKS 28 v 24 HARLEQUINS

Your Sharks overcame a resurgent Harlequins side at the CorpAcq Stadium to claim five points and back-to-back Gallagher PREM wins for the first time since April 2025.

A late penalty try after a powerful driving maul saw Alex Sanderson’s side home after Quins, led by two-try Marcus Smith, had led throughout.

Speaking after the game Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson admitted he was relieved to get over the line but he warned his side will need to improve if they’re going to keep the winning run going.

The visitors started quickly in the October sunshine and went ahead with just four minutes on the clock as hooker Sam Riley dived over in the corner.

Smith failed to convert, and he was off target again five minutes later after he scored himself following slick handling from George Furbank.

Sharks fought back into the game and cut the deficit to just three when Fijian back-rower Elia Canakaivata scored on his first start for the club. George Ford converted.

But on 19 minutes Quins re-established their ten-point lead when England fly-half Smith danced through a porous Sharks defence to dot down. This time his kick was on the money and Quins led 7-17.

Quins were purring and ten minutes later they thought they had extended their lead further when Jack Kenningham looked to have scored on the left hand side. After a check with his TMO, referee Christophe Ridley deemed that the flanker had made a double movement.

The final points of the first half went to Sharks as Gus Warr spotted a gap in the otherwise robust Quins defence to sneak over. Ford converted to leave the score 14-17 at the break.

Sharks wanted to start the second half quickly but it was the visitors who bagged the first points when hooker Riley powered over for his second. Smith converted again to take the score out to 14-24.

Those were to be the last points scored by the visitors as the Sharks bench began to flex their muscles. First Ben Bamber crashed over after Sharks held on to the ball through well over ten phases, and then with just seven minutes left, and the game hanging in the balance, the home side’s front row went to work.

Taking a lineout 30 metres out, the Sharks pack mauled their way to the Quins line. Ridley decided the maul had been dragged down illegally and sent Riley to the bin and, after a second look on the big screen, awarded the penalty try to put Sharks into the lead for the first time.

Speaking after the game Alex said he had faith in his team to find the fixes ahead of the start of the Investec Champions Cup next weekend.

“We weren’t at the races and I 100% felt relief at the end, because we were staring down the barrel at 60 minutes,” he said. “I was thinking ‘we’re better than this.’ But it’s the second week where we’ve found a way to win and problem solve during the game.

“We’re still not where we want to be and we know that won’t be good enough next week against Glasgow or the week after against Newcastle. But we’ll take the five points and celebrate them because, after last season when we suffered so much, we don’t take any win for granted. They’re too hard to come by.

“We know we’ve got a long way to but it’s in this team so we need to find it quickly. But I’ve got faith because this is a great set of lads and a brilliant team.”

Alex left the last word to the returning Ben Curry, who came on as a replacement for his first appearance in ten months.

“Ben looked really lively,” he added. “He played with a big smile on his face and I’m so happy for him.”