Relegation fodder? No-one's told Irish!

- Brendan Gallagher

LONDON Irish marched back into the Premiership with this convincing and stylish victory which strongly suggests that predications of their ‘inevitable’ relegation back to the Championship could be a long way off the mark. 

After an uncertain start from both sides – two penalties from Tommy Bell to one by Marcus Smith – the game exploded into life with a glorious try from Topsy Ojo, his 46th in the Premiership in a career that now spans 15 senior seasons.

It began with a turnover in midfield on their 22 which Irish used to launch an audacious attack. Flyhalf James Marshall picked out Ojo with an inch perfect low kick which sent the veteran wing sprinting down the left wing before passing onto Fergus Mulchrone who also hit the turbo.

The strapping centre looked as if he might go all the away but, as the Quins defence closed, he flicked the ball back inside to Ojo who finished off in style.

Bell added the extras and soon after the Exiles struck again when their full-back sped home from 45 yards after a superb off-load from Blair Cowan had transformed an innocuous looking attack into something much more potent.