R27: Quins safe after dramatic win

Lee Hopkins? two tries inspired Harlequins RL to a narrow 31-30 win over Wigan Warriors in a dramatic game at The Stoop, ending any relegation worries for the London side.

Harlequins started the game brightly and took the lead after six minutes when Lee Hopkins scored a try after good work from Henry Paul. Paul then converted the try to give the home side an early 6-0 lead.

Quins doubled their advantage on 14 minutes as Paul comfortably converted a Solomon Haumono try.

Matthew Gafa turned defence into attack, Chad Randall set up Haumono who went over under the posts.

Wigan replied straight away with a lucky try. Chris Ashton?s kick from the re-start bounced off the Harlequins? crossbar and Bryan Fletcher was first to react and touched down for an easy try which Michael Dobson converted.

The 12-point advantage was restored by Quins on 20 minutes with Luke Dorn?s try. Two more points were added by Paul from a penalty.

Sean O?Loughlin collected a grubber kick from Danny Orr to go over for a simple try for Wigan.

Mark McLinden then kicked a long-range drop goal for Quins on the stroke of half-time to give them an 11-point lead at the break.

In the second half, the Warriors were denied two early tries as referee Philip Bentham judged both to be offside.

And the visitors were made to pay for their mistakes on 54 minutes when Hopkins went over for his second try of the game.

Five minutes later, Haumono went over for his second touchdown to seemingly put the game beyond the visitors.

But Fletcher made sure it was an uneasy last 15 minutes for Quins as he scored twice and Michael Dobson scored to reduce the deficit to one point.

The fightback was too late, though, as Quins hung on to leapfrog Wigan in the table, ensure engage Super League safety and end Wigan?s faint hopes of making the play-offs.

Harlequins RL (21) 31. Tries: Hopkins 2, Haumono 2, Dorn. Goals: Paul 5. Drop goals: McLinden.

Wigan Warriors (12) 30. Tries: Fletcher 3, O?Loughlin, Dobson. Goals: Dobson 5.

Harlequins RL: McLinden, Gafa, Smith, Lucky Luisi, Stewart, Paul, Dorn, Heckenberg, Randall, Haumono, Purdham, Hopkins, Noone. Replacements: Budworth, Williams, Mills, Leuluai.

Wigan Warriors: Ashton, Calderwood, Vaealiki, McAvoy, Richards, Orr, Dobson, Fielden, Higham, Paleaaesina, Hock, Fletcher, O?Loughlin. Replacements: Logan, Tickle, Godwin, Hansen.

Referee: P Bentham

Att: 5,737

Source: superleague.co.uk