With just eight minutes to go Harlequins were awarded a penalty because Gloucester stood up in the scrum. They opted for the kick to take it two scores ahead to 28-18 so even when Gloucester scored a converted try in the dying minutes of the match, the win was secured.

The first points on the board went to the home side after they were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute when Gloucester pulled down a maul. Nick Evans, who signed a three year contract earlier this week, slotted the ball between the posts from the 40m line.

Three minutes later Harlequins knocked on and the resulting scrum was pulled down. Freddie Burns, the Gloucester fly half stepped up and kicked the points to level the score at 3-3.

Harlequins first try came in the fourteenth minute after Maurie Fa'asavalu made a break from a line out. He collected the ball at the back and hurtled towards the try line. As he was tackled he offloaded to Mike Brown who ran in to touch down in the left corner. Evans converted to take the score to 10-3.

Shortly afterwards Harlequins were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle. Burns, who didn't miss a kick all night, made it 10-6.

Just under ten minutes later, the home side's pack was put under pressure for not driving straight and Burns brought the visitors to within a point at 10-9. After a passage of play that saw Harlequins gain momentum and drive towards the Gloucester line, a clearance kick from the visitors put them back in the Harlequins half. Brown was judged to have come into a ruck from the side and was penalised by referee Wayne Barnes. Burns kicked Gloucester into the lead for the first time to leave the score at12-10.

Within minutes though, Harlequins were back in front after a try from Matt Hopper in the right hand corner. Karl Dickson at scrum half had made a break, passed right to Tom Williams, who with an overhead pass off loaded to Hopper who ran into score. Evans' conversion attempt slipped across the face of the posts.

Just before the break Sam Smith put his team even further ahead after he intercepted an attempted pass by Shane Monahan on his 40m line. The Harlequins' winger left the visiting defenders in his wake as he touched down to secure a further five points. This time Evans converted and at half time Harlequins were 22-12 ahead.

Ben Botica replaced Tom Casson at half time to play alongside Evans in the inside centre position. Five minutes after the break Gloucester put a further three points on the board after Harlequins were penalised for crossing, frustratingly as they had a break through midfield. The reliable Burns slotted the kick taking the score to 22-15.

Two minutes later Gloucester were down to 14 men after Monahan was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on Brown. The full back was catching a high ball when Monahan made the tackle and Brown fell to the floor on the winger's shoulders.

A very exciting passage of play from the home side followed with the team handling the ball well and working their way up the field from inside their 40 metre line right up to the Gloucester 22 metre line. They were awarded a penalty after Gloucester took 'Man of the Match' and captain Nick Easter out in the line out. Evans missed, but two minutes later he made no mistake and took his side to 25-15 after kicking a penalty that was awarded for Nick Wood not binding properly in the scrum with James Johnston.

The visitors were back within seven points shortly afterwards however after Burns kicked another penalty when Harlequins conceded for holding on in a ruck. There followed another good passage of play from the champions as Mark Lambert led a 10 metre drive towards the line. The ball was cleared from the ensuing ruck by Dickson and passed out to Fa'asavalu who carried on the forward momentum. Aggressive defence by the visitors forced an error and the chance was lost.

Shortly afterwards another chance went begging when Williams collected a loose ball after a Gloucester knock on, but the offload went to ground and a sure try was missed. The resulting scrum then gave way resulting in the Evans penalty that took the game away from Gloucester at 28-18.

In the 75^th minute Ben Morgan was sin binned for killing the ball. This left the momentum once again with Harlequins. With the number 8 missing, Easter opted for the scrum and after five attempts, all of which were reset due to Gloucester offences, the visitors secured turnover ball. They moved it out wide and broke up field down the left wing. The ball was passed inside and Gloucester managed to scramble a consolation try under the posts through Billy Twelvetrees. Burns duly converted and the match finished 28-25.