NEC Harlequins came away with the maximum five points in a 43-20 victory over Rotherham at the Stoop. Prop Ceri Jones and full back Gavin Duffy both scored two tries apiece, one in each half, with Andy Dunne and Ugo Monye also getting on the score-sheet.
Quins were on the board as early as the third minute. George Harder gathered Phil Jones cross-field kick on the Quins twenty-two and fed Will Greenwood. With the Rotherham defence all at sea, Greenwood released Duffy and the full back had a run-in from 60 metres out for a try that Dunne converted. The Quins fly half then added a penalty to put the home side ten points clear after six minutes.
A penalty from Jones was Rotherham's first points of the game, but Monye then raced over for his try as the match entered the second quarter. Dunne's cross-field kick was expertly tapped back to Monye by Duffy and after holding off a challenge from Michael Wood, the flying winger raced in under the posts presenting Dunne with an easy conversion to make the score 17-3.
Back came Rotherham and on 28 minutes centre Jon Pritchard eased his way through the Quins midfield for a score that Jones converted to put the visitors back to within seven points (17-10). However, four minutes before the break and Jones was driven over by the pack for Quins third try of the night and with Dunne adding the two extra points on offer, Quins took a 14 point lead into half-time (24-10).
Replacement Jon Benson kicked a penalty for Rotherham six minutes after the break, but Dunne raced over to secure Quins bonus point eight minutes later. The fly half capitalized on a turnover of possession after being put clear by Kai Hortsmann, though he then missed the conversion.
With the match going into the final quarter, Jones took an inside pass from Dunne to power his way over by the posts for his second and Quins fifth try of the evening. Dunne's successful conversion put Quins four scores clear (36-13).
Duffy rounded things off for Quins just a minute from the end after a fine break from Chris Bell, and Dunne completed the hosts scoring for the match with the conversion. However, time remained for Wood to score a consolation try for Rotherham and Benson's successful kick for goal was immediately followed by the final whistle.
Final score, 43-20.
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