Evans on target to cut down Bristol

JARROD Evans was Harlequins’ hero as he held his nerve to kick a 45 metre penalty in the dying stages to deprive Bristol of a hat-trick of wins in their opening three Premiership fixtures 

- ROGER PANTING

It was karma for Evans as a fortnight ago at Gloucester he missed a penalty at a crucial time and was yellow-carded in the dying minutes and hence had to sit and watch as the hosts scored a match-winning try with the final play.

Here he was presented with the match-winning opportunity after the subsequently sin-binned Jake Heenan was guilty of a high tackle on Quins’ captain, Alex Dombrandt.

Harlequins’ lineout and contact coach, Danny Wilson said: “I’ve worked with Jarrod before and he’s a class player who has been brilliant since he joined the club.

“It was by no means an easy kick in those conditions.”

Indeed the conditions did play a huge part in the contest. In dry conditions, Harlequins compiled a 13-0 lead playing a swift off-loading game in which Evans and Dombrandt excelled.